round one habitat where do these creatures live sea lions are found everywhere
they make up both the northern and southern hemisphere they are however notably not present
in the atlantic ocean you will find them in the sub-arctic and tropical waters of the global ocean
you'll find sea lions along southern australia southwestern africa and south america the most
famous sea lions live in the northern pacific between asia and north america sea lions are a
few from their family who can be found in both cold and warm seas on the other hand the walrus
prefers sea ice and snow-covered ice floating packs to land they can be found in the cold arctic
areas from alaska to canada and north europe with cold climates the sea lion population is steadily
growing at an estimated 257 000 individuals while the world has lived through times where there
were more than 2 million sea lions 7 subspecies there has been a decline in their numbers this
is due to the multi-decadal sea surface warming crisis walruses have a population of about 250
000 this is incredible considering that the animal only has two subspecies still there could have
been more of them the decline is because of a decline in sea ice due to global climate change
in 2008 the walrus was initially discussed as an endangered species by 2011 they had been listed
under the endangered species act however the u.s fish and wildlife service determined in 2021
that it does not warrant listing as threatened or endangered under the endangered species act both
animals face depletion but the sea lion sees more natural and manufactured decline than the walrus
there has been an amendment to the marine mammal protection act to enable indiscriminate killings
of sea lions to preserve salmon this new directive means that salmon eating sea lions could be killed
to the tune of 1100 each year it is estimated that russia and us walrus hunting hit about
7 000 annually this hunt has been going on for the past 40 years where walruses provide meat oil
and skin to people although efforts have been made to get the walrus to recover people from
the eastern arctic continue to hunt them illegally sea lions are mammals that can carry a single baby
for 17.5 months there may be rare cases of twins but the average is one baby they are ready to mate
after 20 days when they have the baby one male sea lion can mate with about 17 females in one
mating season female sea lions reach sexual age at 3 years while males reach 6 years with walrus they
have a slow reproductive rate it takes 2 years before a female is ready to mate again after
having a calf the males however mate with many females in one season a walrus is often pregnant
for 15 to 16 months depending on the gestation process of the female involved the walrus has
the lowest reproduction rate in all pinnipeds due to the delay of the female to get back into mating
the delay is because they raise their calves by themselves in this round it is clear that
sea lions have a better reproduction rate a more robust population and a diverse habitat the walrus
is hunted and killed more but are not considered endangered sea lions were the better ones in this
round round 2 diet sea lions are predators who feed on about 50 species of fish they primarily
feed on herrings squid octopi and anchovy they are also predators of salmon and other bottom-dwelling
fishes who come out to escape winter walruses eat bivalves like clams they also eat worms
sea cucumbers gastropods and cephalopods they are carnivores who eat soft-bodied animals they
prey on such soft body fishes as polar cod they also eat the carcass of young seals in comparison
some males go after ringed and bearded seals for food how much do these creatures need to eat
the food intake of the sea lion is about five percent to eight percent of their body weight
per day it's been observed that they do not drink water except for males when they are fasting
fasting happens for males who have to defend their territories during the breeding season if they
go and find food they miss mating opportunities within their territories the adult walrus needs
about three percent to six percent of their total weight per day they eat twice daily in one feeding
session a walrus can consume three thousand to six thousand clams pregnant walruses can consume 30 to
40 percent more than their usual food intake sea lions usually fast for weeks and while they are
drinking only water they tend to consume stones there's no justification for it scientifically
yet it is believed to help with digestion make them way more or stop irritation from
intestinal parasites walruses look for food about 10 to 50 meters from the ocean's surface
when they're underwater they take in large mouthfuls and spit out forcefully to expose any
food that has gone into hiding when they find food they swallow it whole walruses do not chew food
and it is evident in the findings that researchers make of tiny stones and pebbles in their stomachs
sea lions are predators of more fish species eat more of their body weight per day and go without
food to preserve their territories therefore they within this diet round round 3 life span how old
can they get sea lions have an average of 20 to 30 years their life expectancy puts the years at 15
to 25 for the majority of sea lions when they are in captivity they tend to go past 32 years it is
also recorded that there is a pub mortality rate between 10 to 15 during the first month they could
also be washed away by high tides within their first year on the other hand walrus can live up to
40 years their age is evident on their checked teeth as they age they produce dental material
layered on their teeth when you count the layers on a slice section of their teeth you'll be able
to tell their age when it comes to longevity and lifespan walruses have undoubtedly a longer stay
they live for 40 years compared to a sea lion's 30-year maximum round 4 bigger threat to humans
sea lions can attack humans for many reasons the usual is because they view them as a threat
or mistook them for play toys if a sea lion comes eight feet into contact with a human
it could be unsafe the usual attacks are bites and pulling by the outfit into water
the mouth of a sea lion can give you an infection or a minor bone injury in 2007 a girl was mauled
by a sea lion while surfing behind a speedboat some other people in san francisco have reported
bites on their legs when they make entries into their territories in april 2015 a 62 year old man
was attacked while boating in san diego leaving him with a punctured bone walruses attacked people
in boats and sometimes capsized the boat in 1960 a fisherman with a seal was attacked by a walrus
into unconsciousness and the wild walrus stole his seal in 2016 a chinese man taking a selfie
with a walrus was dragged into the water and killed the animal came from behind him and
playfully dragged him into the water he submerged the tourist and kept swinging him until he died
although both have had terrifying incidents involving humans walruses are the larger animals
and the better opponents they win this round too round five what are these creatures hunted by
natural predators of sea lions are sharks and orcas killer whales and humans these
attackers often hunt the weak and young sea lions walruses however are very large and rarely find
themselves being attacked by other animals they often fight amongst themselves instead
occasionally polar bears and killer whales attack weaker and younger walruses but they
are unsuccessful humans who try to hunt walruses physically are also
under the mercy of their strength this is a testament to the power of the walrus it is not
only the bigger animal it is also the stronger one at the apex of the predatory chain round
six speed sea lions are fast underwater although they like to cruise slower they can reach 30
kilometers per hour their fastest time is 56 kilometers per hour when they choose they walk
by rotating their hind flippers forward and under their bodies on land it makes them relatively slow
on land on land the walrus moves awkwardly much like the sea lion it has the speed of a
running human being they can move on all fours and sprint in short spurts if they have to
their size and speed are astonishing when they're swimming they can cover seven kilometers an hour
their speed level is 35 kilometers per hour they can dive up to 90 meters underwater and can stay
there for 30 minutes at once in this round it is evident that the wing-like strokes of the sea
lion make them faster although they do not use it often round seven special skills and adaptations
sea lions can regulate their own body temperature their capillaries are close to the skin's surface
and can catch its sunbeams to keep the body warm when it's cold they also have a hearing ability
that picks up sound both under and above water their whiskers can also detect fish hidden they
are the best choice for aquariums they are quick learners and can adjust to new information quickly
they breed readily receive training and perform efficiently in captivity walruses are known for
their tusks which they use to break ice and fight their tusk is an extension of their canine teeth
they are also considered very sociable animals who make many snorting and bellowing noises at each
other during mating finally they can stay in cold waters due to their thick blubbers which are four
inches thick and insulate them while the sea lion is ideal for human entertainment and tourism
the walrus tends to have more adaptability skills the walrus therefore wins this round
verdict sea lions have a better habitat situation diet and speed when it comes to the walrus
they have a better chance against humans a better chance against predators a longer life span and
special skills that means that the walrus is a more self-sufficient animal than the sea lion
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