Southern Red Sea Lion
The Southern Red Sea Lion (Rubidaphoca ructans) in the family Otariidae, also known as Small Red Sea Lion, is probably the most widespread species of seals in the IDU. It can be found along the shores of the sea between Northern and Southern Continent.
It is one of the three species of the genus Rubidaphoca, the others being the Northern Red Sea Lion and the Black Sea Lion.
Appearance
The fur of the Southern Red Sea Lion can actually range in color from a dark beige to maroon, depending on the age of the individual animals (the young are usually lighter) and their genetic makeup. In general, animals living on the northern shores of the ocean tend to be redder than their southern equivalents.
Their name is derived from the fact that the reddish fur of some individuals used to be a most priced luxury item, and the excessive hunting of these led to the nearby extinction of the carriers of the allele responsible for the red hue of the fur. Today, only about 1 in 300 Southern Red Sea Lions actually appear red or maroon.
Males grow up to be about 2.5m long, weighing up to 360kg; females, on the other hand, generally do not exceed more than 2.1m and 110 kg.
Behavior
Southern Red Sea Lions are highly social animals, and usually gather in large groups ashore. They often also hunt in groups, but this is more common with females and young males. Mature males are rather solitary hunters.
A colony of sea lions actually consists of a number of seperate territories of males, each with a group of females. Generally, the stronger a male is, the more females are to be found within his territory. The upkeeping of such a territory is extremely stressful for the male, and most are replaced by younger bulls after about three or four years.
Mating happens about after one or two weeks after a female has given birth, usually in March.
The gestation period last approximately 12 months, and only a single cub is born. They can swim soon after birth and often live in subcolonies with other cubs, but the relation between a mother and her child is nevertheless very close.
The scientific name ructans (lit. 'burping') refers to the sounds produced by these sea lions. They communicate by calling and roaring, but to human ears, these closely ressemble a burping sound, hence the name. Cubs are identified by their mothers first by their individual calling pattern and only then by their smell.
Diet
Southern Red Sea Lions are carnivores, like all seals, with their main source of food being fish and squid.
To obtain their food, sea lions dive to a depth of up to 80m if need be.
A swarm of fish is often encircled by a group of sea lions hunting together. How exactly they coordinate their hunt has yet to be discovered.
Habitat
The Southern Red Sea Lions prefer sand beaches, but can adapt to many other surroundings and can be found in vast numbers on many human-made structures like wharves and even buoys.
They can be found on most shores of the ocean between the Southern and Northern Continent of the IDU.
Countries where the Southern Red Sea Lion is an indigenous species:
It can also be found along the shores of the Unclaimed Lands of the IDU.
Whether the sea lion population in the Delaini Bay is a subspecies of the Southern Red Sea Lion or the Northern Sea Lion is still desputed.
Status and Protection
Today, the Southern Red Sea Lion is not classified as endangered thanks to the environmental protection laws in most countries of the IDU.
The total number of the sea lions is unknown, as large parts of its natural territory lie within the Unclaimed Lands, so one can only guess at their number. Currently, it is estimated as being between 2,000,000 and 2,400,000 individuals.
Names
- English: Southern Red Sea Lion, Small Red Sea Lion
- Dutch: Zuidelijk Kleur Zeeleeuw, Luttel Kleur Zeeleeuw
- German: Südlicher Roter Seelöwe, Kleiner Seelöwe
- French: Phoque Rouge du Sud, Petit Phoque Rouge
- Baranxeï: šantur ēgu aŋsu, niþije
- Qi: nitiye
- Chicoutim: nitiyé
