San Diego es un paraíso costero conocido por sus impresionantes playas y su increíble vida marina. Si está buscando una experiencia inolvidable de la vida marina en esta soleada ciudad, entonces no busque más, City Cruises le ofrece increíbles aventuras para presenciar leones marinos, ballenas y toda la majestuosa belleza de estas criaturas en su hábitat natural. Únase a nosotros para disfrutar de una oportunidad única de explorar las hermosas aguas de San Diego y descubra por qué estas excursiones son una visita obligada para cualquiera que visite o resida en la zona de San Diego o el área metropolitana de Los Ángeles.
DESCRIPCIÓN:
Los machos adultos de león marino de California suelen ser de color marrón chocolate y se distinguen fácilmente de las hembras por la protuberancia que tienen en la frente. cresta sagital. Los machos también crecen mucho más que las hembras, alcanzan de 2 a 2,5 metros de longitud y pesan de 200 a 400 kilogramos. Las hembras adultas suelen ser rubias, miden entre 1,5 y 2 metros y pesan entre 50 y 110 kilos.
ÁREA DE DISTRIBUCIÓN Y HÁBITAT:
California sea lions range along the Pacific coast of North America and within the Gulf of California. They are often spotted hauled out of the water resting and playing on docks, jetties, beaches, and buoys, or swimming or resting nearby.
DIETA:
California sea lions are carnivores—they only eat meat. These active hunters prey on a variety of fish, small stingrays, squid, and octopus. While they have excellent eyesight both in and out of the water, they often rely on their sensitive vibrissae (whiskers) to detect and follow the movement of prey in dark or murky water conditions.
REPRODUCCIÓN:
La mayoría de los leones marinos de California asquerías (pupping grounds) are on islands in the southern part of their range, from the Channel Islands off Southern
California hasta el Golfo de California. Por lo general, en junio o julio, una hembra adulta da a luz a una sola cría que amamanta durante seis a doce meses. La madre deja a su cría para buscar comida. Las crías se relacionan y juegan en grupos. guarderías. Cuando regresa a la colonia, la madre puede localizar y reconocer a su propia cría por su olor y vocalizaciones.
COMPORTAMIENTO:
California sea lions are extremely noisy, social, and playful animals. They are well-known for their distinctive barking. Like other pinnipeds (seals, sea lions, and walruses), California sea lions haul out from the water onto land to rest and socialize. They often rest in tightly packed groups at the haul out or at the water’s surface in groups called rafts. Sea lions often surf the waves or porpoise like a dolphin when playing, traveling at high speeds, or feeding.
PREDADORES:
Los leones marinos de California son presa de grandes tiburones, sobre todo tiburones blancos, y orcas.
ESTADO Y CONSERVACIÓN:
While California sea lions are not endangered or threatened, the population has declined in the past few years due to an unusual mortality event. Between 2013-2016, more than 9,000 California sea lion pups and yearlings were stranded along the California coast. Most of the stranded pups were abandoned too early by their mothers and were emaciated, dehydrated, and underweight when rescued. The mothers weaned their pups early because they unable unable to find enough high-quality prey like sardines near the rookeries. As a result, the mothers could not produce enough milk to continue to nurse their pups.
If you see a stranded sea lion, be sure to notify a local marine mammal stranding network. NOAA Fisheries has contact information for the network of marine mammal rescue organizations along the Pacific Coast of the United States. These rescue centers all have well-trained and highly qualified staff that may be able to rescue, rehabilitate, and return these malnourished sea lions to the sea when they reach a healthy weight.
¿LO SABÍAS?
California sea lions are a type of pinniped, a group of marine mammals that includes all seals, sea lions, and walruses. Sea lions and fur seals are further grouped in the Otariidae family of “eared seals,” which share the key characteristic of external ear flaps, unlike “true seals” and walruses, which have a tiny opening on each side of the head.
Si observa a los leones marinos moverse por la orilla o los muelles, se dará cuenta de que pueden meter las aletas traseras bajo el cuerpo y utilizar las cuatro aletas para "caminar", otra característica de las focas orejudas. Los leones marinos también tienen largas aletas delanteras en forma de ala que mueven hacia arriba y hacia abajo para volar por el agua.
Las "focas amaestradas" que suelen verse en zoológicos y acuarios son leones marinos de California.
Podrá ver leones marinos de California en la mayoría de los barcos de City Cruises San Diego o en un crucero de aventura de avistamiento de ballenas y delfines y disfrutar de las mejores vistas de la bahía de San Diego.
Se maravillará con la fascinante vida marina mientras escucha la narración a bordo del Museo Nacional de Historia de San Diego.
Join us on the water as we search for Gray Whales (winter), Blue Whales (Summer), Minke Whales, Fin Whales, dolphins, sea lions, marine birds, and much more! As we cruise, we’ll see up-close views of the bay’s wildlife as well as iconic landmarks from a new perspective. Onboard, our staff will provide live narration and details about the aquatic life and landmarks we pass for a truly memorable experience. You’ll have plenty of opportunities to capture all the sights in photos and video. Click here to view our Whale Watching Report.
Fecha de publicación original: Decemer 3, 2018