Species · GBIF taxon 2433484
Australian Sea Lion
Neophoca cinereaAlso known as Australian Sea-lion, Australian Sealion
Australian sea lions are highly social, agile marine mammals that spend their lives along the sandy beaches and rocky coastlines of southern and western Australia. Unlike most pinnipeds, they follow a unique, non-seasonal breeding cycle that lasts roughly 18 months, meaning pups are born at different times of the year depending on the colony. Males are massive and dark brown with a pale yellow mane, while the smaller females sport elegant silver-grey coats with cream-colored bellies.
MarinePinniped
Licensed reference(c) Katya, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Katya · cc-by
—observations
—countries
—peak records
EndangeredConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXEndangeredRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Octopus
- Rock lobster
- Benthic fish
Predators
- Great white shark
- Orca
ThreatsEntanglement in marine debris, gillnet fishing bycatch, and low genetic diversity
HabitatsSandy beaches, rocky coastlines, offshore islands, and temperate marine waters
Life span20 to 26 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- FamilyOtariidae
- SpeciesNeophoca cinerea
Native
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Can charge quickly on land and deliver a powerful bite; maintain a distance of at least 15 meters.
- Why it is dangerous
- Adults, especially territorial bulls, can weigh up to 300 kilograms and run surprisingly fast on land, delivering severe bites if threatened.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for large, dark brown seals with a distinct blonde mane (males) or smaller silver-grey seals with cream bellies (females).
- What to do
- Never approach sleeping or resting individuals on beaches, and keep dogs on a leash at all times in their habitat.
- What to notice
- Recognizable by their blunt dog-like snouts, visible external ear flaps, and ability to walk on all four flippers.
- Support conservation
- Avoid visiting breeding colonies during pupping seasons and report any entangled or injured animals to local wildlife authorities.
Responsible observation
- Keep your distance: Stay at least 15 to 30 meters away on beaches to avoid causing stress or defensive behavior.
- Do not block paths: Always leave a clear path to the water so they do not feel cornered.
- Watch for warning signs: Back away immediately if a sea lion raises its head, vocalizes, or moves toward you.
Competitor JJ Harrison (https://www.jjharrison.com.au/) / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Predator "Great White Shark" by Elias Levy is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
Prey (c) Spencer McIntyre, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Spencer McIntyre · cc-by
Close Relative "New Zealand Sea Lion" by treegrow is licensed under CC BY 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/. · cc-by
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