Main Characteristics

New Zealand Sea Lions are large sea lions that reach lengths between 2 and 3.3 m (6.5 - 11 ft). Males are coloured dark brown with grey hindquarters and females and juveniles are silver/grey or brown/grey.

Habitat

New Zealand Sea Lions can be found on a few subantarctic islands south of New Zealand.

Diet

New Zealand Sea Lions feed on fish, crabs, penguins and octopus.

Breeding

After a gestation period of 12 months, New Zealand Sea Lions give birth to a single pup. The pups are weaned within 1 year.

Females reach sexual maturity at around 4 years of age and males around 5 years of age, although males do not normally mate until they are at least 8 years old.

Predators


Subspecies

New Zealand Sea Lions have no subspecies

Interesting Facts

New Zealand Sea Lions are also known as:
New Zealand Sealion
Hooker's Sea Lion
Hooker's Sealion
Whakahao (Maori)

Similar Animals

South American Sea Lion
Steller Sea Lion
Galapagos Sea Lion
Japanese Sea Lion
California Sea Lion
Australian Sea Lion