California Sea Lion - Houston Zoo is a photograph by TN Fairey which was uploaded on May 7th, 2014.
Title
California Sea Lion - Houston Zoo
Artist
TN Fairey
Medium
Photograph - Photographs
Description
California Sea Lion taken at Houston Zoo.
The clichï¿¿circus sealï¿¿obligingly balancing a ball on its nose and jumping through hoopsï¿¿is typically a California sea lion.
But in the wild, the California sea lion is a sleek animal, faster than any other sea lion or seal. These eared seals top out at speeds of some 25 miles (40 kilometers) an hour. Unlike other sea lions, California sea lions do not have lionlike manes.
These pinnipeds live along the rocky Pacific Ocean coastlines of western North America and also near Ecuador's Galï¿¿gos Islands. Huge colonies can be seen gathered on seaside rocks, and even on man-made structures, for breeding and for birthing. Males gather harems of females to their sides in competition to sire young pups, which are born on land.
The sea lion's ancient ancestors, like those of whales and dolphins, lived on land. The modern animal is well adapted to an aquatic environment, with its streamlined body and powerful flippers. (The rear flippers rotate forward to allow a California sea lion to move surprisingly well on land.) California sea lions also boast thick layers of blubber to insulate their bodies from the chill of marine waters.
When diving deep, California sea lions slow their heart rates to allow them to remain underwater for nearly ten minutes before surfacing to breathe. This ability gives them an edge in the pursuit of the fish, squid, and shellfish that make up their primary diet.
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Uploaded
May 7th, 2014
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Comments (49)
Reynold Jay
He looks happy, TN! A lovely work of art! I wish you the very best in the upcoming year! Happy New Year. FAV!
Donna Kennedy
Such a beautiful and fun image dear Tessa! Wonderful color and detail!...fav/tweet/g+/love
Barbara Dudzinska
Wow, what a capture. You have so many fantastic photos in your portfolio. Brilliant water splashes. You can se every drop. I like to revisit often. Fv
Donna Kennedy
Re-visiting this beautiful image dear Tessa!...tweet/love
TN Fairey replied:
Thank you so much for you wonderful comment tweet/love dear Donna. Greatly appreciated!
Hanne Lore Koehler
Magnificent joyful capture, Tessa!!! Wonderful colors and special effects! L/F/T/G+/P
Donna Kennedy
Congratulations Tessa! Your fantastic image has been Featured in our group The Gold Standard, because of its excellence!
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