Jon Atkinson - Wildlife And Travel Photographer

Seals and Sea Lions

Jon Atkinson Facebook Jon Atkinson E-Mail
South American Fur Seal
South American Fur Seal
South American Fur Seal
South American Fur Seal
South American Fur Seal
Seal 1 - South American Seal Lion, Darwin Channel, Argentina: South American Sea Lions have a body length between 1.8 and 2.8 meters (5.9 - 9.2 ft) and they weigh between 140 and 350 kilogrammes (310 - 770 lbs). Males are around 2 - 3 times the size of females. Males are dark brown in colour with a paler coloured underside and they have a full mane. Females are pale brown with some pale markings around their head.
Seal 2 - South American Seal Lion, Darwin Channel, Argentina:South American Sea Lions can be found along the coast lines of South America. South American sea lions are opportunistic feeders with a diet of demersal, pelagic, and bottom species including fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Females feed in coastal areas and on a larger variety of prey than the males.
Seal 3 - South American Seal Lion, Darwin Channel, Argentina: The total estimated population of the South American fur seal, is between 300,000-450,000 ranging from Peninsula Paracas in southern Peru to the coasts Rio Grande do Sul in southern Brazil. South American fur seal adults in feed mainly on anchovies but based on location may eat fish shrimp and lobster krill.
Common Seal Pup
Common seal
South American Fur Seal
Seal 4 - Common Seal Pup, Norfolk, England: The common seal (Phoca vitulina), also known as the harbor seal, is an agile carnivore with a streamlined body and flipper-like limbs that enable them to swim with great skill. They are the most widespread of all pinnipeds and have a body length between 1.4 and 1.9 meters and they weigh between 55 and 170 kilograms.
Seal 5 - Common Seal, Norfolk, England: Common Seals inhabit the waters of the north Atlantic and north Pacific and they haul out and rest on rocky shores, sandy beaches and mud flats. They feed mainly on fish within 20 kilometers from shore. The worldwide population of Common Seals is believed to be between 400,000 and 500,000.
Seal 6 - South American Sea Lion, Darwin Channel: The South American seal is an Eared seals which differ from true seals in having small external earflaps and hind flippers that can be turned to face forwards. Together with strong front flippers, this gives them extra mobility on land and an adult fur seal can move extremely fast across the beach if it has to. They also use their front flippers for swimming, whereas true seals use their hind flippers.
New Zealand Fur Seal
Southern Elephant Seal
New Zealand Fur Seal
Seal 7 - New Zealand Fur Seal, Kiakoura, New Zealand: New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus forsteri, or kekeno) are found around New Zealand and its offshore islands, and southern Australia. There diet comprises of fish, squid and octopus, and crustaceans including krill. Most dives last one or two minutes. Fur seals will forage up to 200 kilometers beyond the continental slope, often diving as deep as 200 meters.
Seal 8 - Southern Elephant Seals, Valdes Penninsula: Southern elephant seals live in the freezing waters are found around the sub antarctic islands near the Antarctic Polar Front. The male can grow to over 6 meters long and weigh over 3,500 kilograms. Females are smaller, growing to 3 meters long with a weight over 2,000 kilograms.
Seal 9 - New Zealand Fur Seal, Kiakoura, New Zealand: New Zealand Fur seals will often travel long distances, foraging up to 200 kilometers beyond the continental slope, often diving as deep as 200 meters although the typical dive length will last one or two minutes to much shallower depths.
Southern Elephant Seal
Galapagos Sea Lion
Seal 10 - Hawaiian Monk Seal, Maui, Hawaii: The Hawaiian monk seal, Monachus schauinslandi, is Hawaii's only pinniped. It is a species that is considered endemic to the islands, one of only two mammals with that status along with the Hoary Bat.The population of the Hawaiian monk seal is currently estimated to be between 1,500 and 1,200 individuals. They are considered an endangered species. Adult monk seals measure about seven feet in length and weigh between 400 and 600 pounds, with females often being larger than males.
Seal 11 - Southern Elephant Seal, New Zealand: The Southern Elephant Seal is the largest seal in the world. They are named for their elephant trunk-like nose that resembles an Elephant's trunk when filled with air. They are great divers and have been known to deep dive as deep as 2,000 meters staying underwater for up to 2 hours.
Seal 12 - Galapagos Sea Lion: A full-grown male Galapagos Sea Lion can weigh up to 250 kg. The Galapagos sea lion males differ from the more females in being much larger, having a characteristic "bump" on the forehead, and having a massive, thick, neck. When wet, both sexes are dark brown, but when dry, the fur is often appears a creamy brown. Galapagos sea lions are common in the islands where there are sandy beaches and rocky shores. It is estimated that there are about 50,000 individuals.

  All photography is copyright © Jon Atkinson and images may not be reposted without express permission.