Galapagos Sea Lions

They Definitely are Not Seals

Sea Lion Pup at Egas Point

Ask any visitor to tell you the highlight of their visit to the Galapagos Islands, and you’re likely to hear “The sea lions!” Who doesn’t love a sea lion, especially a little pup. They greet you on every island. They are unafraid. They are entertaining. They are cute. They are noisy. They show up in the most expected, and unexpected, places. They sit on our park benches, taking over. They climb into our boats and pangas if we let them. They lay about the ocean front property, after all, they were here first; they actually do own the beach! They swim and cavort in the water. They don’t mind having their picture taken and are more than willing to pose. So, everyone gets bragging rights to having taken wonderful photos of the sea lions.

Galapagos sea lions are ubiquitous and can be found on every island. They are endemic and exclusive to the archipelago (except for one location on Ecuador’s mainland coastline). The total population is about 50,000 sea lions. They are quite large as sea lions go and range in size from mature males of about 1000 pounds to mature females of about 700 pounds. Pups weigh about 13 pounds at birth.

In physique, sea lion males are broader on top and more narrow through their abdomen. Female sea lions are somewhat more slender in general. The males also have a forehead, unlike females and pups, which have flatter heads. All sea lions have a pointy, whiskered nose and a long, narrow muzzle.

Large Sea Lion Colony on Gardner Bay, Espanola

On each island there are colonies of sea lions. Within each colony, there are multiple males (bulls). Each bull controls his own a harem of females (cows) and the territory surrounding it. It’s an interesting sight to behold as the male swims back and forth along the coastline patrolling the area that houses his family of 5–25 females and their pups. As he surveys his brood, he may be seen, and definitely heard, lifting his head out of the water and barking his territorial ownership.

Young Sea Lion Males Playing and Learning the Skills to Fight for Territory Later In Life

Males regularly engage in battles for dominance and challenges occur all the time. It’s almost inevitable that the reigning bull is going to be ousted. While the male protects his harem, he does not leave even to find food for himself. Thus, over time, the one who was strongest, weakens from lack of nutrition and another male eventually will be capable of taking over his territory. These challenges can become rather physical, thus the reason for the males’ thick necks and torso which provide protection from the physical blows and other battle scars that can occur during a fight for domination.

It’s not so terrible to lose the fight though. The once-dominant male gets to go on a much-needed vacation. He joins the other extra males on their own beach front property where they can eat their way back to health and lie around on the beach like couch potatoes! There they live together until they strengthen and take on another challenge.

Two Types of Galapagos Sea Lions, But No Seals

Fur Sea Lion and Galapagos Sea Lion Pups

It’s inevitable. At the beginning of the week as we start a cruise, my guests refer to sea lions as seals, and I correct them, repeatedly, until the word “sea lion” becomes second nature. I admit, sometimes I threaten a $5.00 fine for each time they use the word seal, but I never collect a dime!

There are two types of sea lion in Galapagos, the ubiquitous Galapagos sea lion and the more rare fur sea lion. Both types of sea lions are within the order pinnipeds, meaning fin-footed. I am going to discuss the difference between these pinnipeds and “true seals” below. But first, let’s distinguish the similarities and shared characteristics between the Galapagos sea lions and fur sea lions.

Characteristics That Fur Sea Lions and Galapagos Sea Lions Have in Common

• Both have ear flaps and great hearing
• Both have short fur
• Both have fine-tuned whiskers called vibrissae which work as tactile sensors, much like those of a cat
• Both have large, hairless flippers which they use more effectively on land. They are able to rotate their hind flippers toward the ground thus enabling them to walk on all four appendages
• They are both social, although Galapagos sea lions are more so than the fur sea lion
• Both are carnivorous and eat a wide variety of fish, crustaceans and clams
• Both spend time on both the land and in the water.

Characteristics That Differentiate Fur Sea Lions and Galapagos Sea Lions

• The Galapagos sea lion has a blunt nose, while the fur sea lion has a pointed nose
• The Galapagos sea lion tends to be unafraid of people, while the fur sea lion may exhibit some signs of fear
• The Galapagos sea lion’s hind flippers move independently; those of the fur sea lion are longer and move together
• The Galapagos sea lion has coarser, less dense hair, while the fur sea lion has finer, denser and thicker hair
• The Galapagos sea lion has marked color variation between the sexes, while there is little color variation between the sexes in fur sea lions
• Galapagos sea lions prefer sandy beaches, while fur sea lions prefer rocky shores
• Adult male Galapagos sea lions have a mane of longer hair around their neck and chest, while fur sea lions have no mane
• Galapagos sea lions feed over the continental shelf, while fur sea lions feed at edge of the continental shelf and sometimes even beyond it
• The fur sea lion is the smallest member of this family, while Galapagos sea lions can be very large, up to even 1000 pounds
• The fur sea lion is a better climber
• The fur sea lion’s eyes tend to be bigger than those of a Galapagos sea lion; some say it has a sad expression, while a Galapagos sea lion seems to have a smile on its face (see the photo above for the precious smile)
• The fur sea lion’s voice is hoarser and more guttural, but is less often used; the Galapagos sea lion’s bark is loud and frequent.

That helps with the distinction between a Galapagos sea lion and a Galapagos fur sea lion, but there are even bigger difference between these sea lions and “true seals,” which are not found on the Galapagos Islands.

A Comparison Between Galapagos Sea Lions and “True” Seals

• First of all, let’s start with their origins. Sea lions are descendents of wolves; seals are descended from bears.
• True seals do not exist in the Galapagos Islands
• Sea lions have external flaps that look like ears; seals do not, instead they have tiny holes on the sides of their sleek heads; both have excellent hearing skills
• Seals are generally smaller than sea lions
• A major difference is in their flippers: Sea lion flippers are much better adapted to the land than those of the seal.
• The sea lion’s front flippers have a band of fur, but are mostly covered in a leathery skin. They have digits and claws. Their flipper configuration makes sea lions very agile in the water.
• Sea lions also have the ability to control their flippers independently, which helps them in changing direction underwater and gives the greater control when on land. Seals, in contrast, have weaker, furry and stubbly front feet with thinly webbed flippers; their hind flippers don’t rotate. They are much smaller than those of the sea lion. They move on land by using these little appendages to wiggle forward, and their movement is sort of caterpillar-like. Their back flippers are, however, stronger and propel them powerfully through the water
• Sea lions are noisy; seals are quieter, vocalizing through soft grunts instead of barks and roars
• There is a difference in a sea lion’s and seal’s sex organs as well. The seal’s penis and testes are internal and their nipples can be retracted to reduce drag, thus making them very aerodynamic in the water
• Seals are less social than their sea-lion cousins. They spend more time in the water than sea lions do and often lead solitary lives in the wild, coming ashore together only once a year to meet and mate.

As we have learned and seen for ourselves, sea lions love to lull around together, playing, cavorting, sun bathing and entertaining themselves and, as very lucky bystanders, us as well.

Harry Jiménez, Owner and General Manager
Galapagos Eco Friendly
Av. 12 de Febrero y Av. J Roldo
San Cristobal Island
Galapagos, Ecuador SCY
Reservations: 593 052 520 124
Email: info@galapagosecolodge.net

A version of this article has been published at blog.galapagoslodge.net.