Lesson 24:Sea Lions

HOUGHTON MIFFLIN

y Catherine Godine
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Introduction
If they are very lucky, visitors to the
coast of California get a treat. They get
to see sea lions.
These noisy, playful animals swim
in the bays of California. They swim
alone or in groups. Sometimes they leap
and dive in the water. They also float
together in a group, looking like a large
raft. They even ride the rippled waves
like surfers.

Visitors aboard boats might see sea
lions sleeping on islands. The sea lions
rest with their noses pointing to the sky
or lie stacked on top of one another on a
large rock.
Visitors can hear sea lions, too.
Sea lions bark, honk, and trumpet to
each other. Some even roar.
Visitors to the coast of California see sea lions
play and swim.

What Are Sea Lions
Sea lions are mammals. Mammals are
warm-blooded animals with hair or fur.
Female mammals produce milk to feed
their young.
Sea lions can grow to be 5 to 11 feet
long. They can weigh from 77 to 2,00
pounds.
Sea lions have whiskers and fur, fins
and flippers. They have large eyes to
help them see underwater. Their teeth
are sharp and pointed, good for catching
and eating food.
Male seal lions are much bigger than females.

eyes
fur
whiskers
fins
flippers
Sea lions are great swimmers. They
have a sleek body that’s perfect for
moving through the water. Long flippers
help them make powerful strokes while
swimming. They can reach speeds of 25
miles per hour for short periods. This
helps them escape from their enemies.
5

Seal or Sea Lion
How can you tell the difference
between a sea lion and a seal Both
are mammals, and both have flippers.
Blubber keeps them warm during any
cold ocean voyage. And both like to eat!
Sea lions have small ear flaps. Seals
have just a tiny opening through which
they hear. And sea lions can rotate, or
twist, their back flippers to help them
scoot along when they are on land. Seals
can’t rotate their flippers.
Sea lions use their
flippers to move on
land. Seals can’t do this.

Sea lions dive and then surface like whales do.
Where Do Sea Lions Live
Many sea lions live in the waters of
California. They also live in waters near
Oregon and Washington and in Canada.
Sea lions can dive down as far as 600
feet in search of tasty food. They are
mammals, though, so they cannot stay
underwater forever. They must return to
the surface to breathe.

Sea lions play on the rocks formed by lava from a
volcano long ago.
Sea lions can live on land too. They
can be spotted on beaches, islands, or
rocks near the coast. They spend most
of their day sleeping on land. They also
gather at marinas or wharves and rest on
old anchors. At night they hunt for food.
Sea lion pups are born on land. A
few weeks after their arrival, they begin
to learn to swim and fish.

How Smart Are Sea Lions
Sea lions are smart. They can be
trained to toss objects in the air and
catch them on their noses. They can be
guided to perform these tricks on cue.
Sea lions often perform at zoos
and aquariums.
Scientists study sea lions. They are
interested in finding out how sea lions
work together.
Sea lions perform at many zoos and aquariums.

Are Sea Lions in Danger
Sea lions were once hunted for their
skin and oil. Many died. Now laws keep
them safe from hunters.
Sea lions are still in danger. Oil and
garbage dumped in oceans by humans
hurt them. But many people are working
to keep them safe.
10

Responding
TARGET VOCABULARY Word Builder
Make a web around the word bay. List
animals you would see in bays. Copy the
web and add words.
sea lion
bay
Write About It
Text to Self Describe a bay. Tell what
animals you would see, and why you want
to see them. Use words from the web.
11

TARGET VOCABULARY
aboard
anchor
arrival
bay
guided
lava
rippled
spotted
twisted
voyage
TARGET STRATEGY Question Ask questions
before you read, as you read, and after you read.
Remove the first letter and you can use
this to build a house.
12

Level: M
DRA: 28
Science
Strategy:
Question
Word Count: 618
3.5.24 Build Vocabulary
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN
Online Leveled Books
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ISBN-10: 0-547-02186-0
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