Temporal integration in a California sea lion and a harbor seal: Estimates of aerial auditory sensitivity as a function of signal duration

2004 ◽  
Vol 116 (4) ◽  
pp. 2531-2531 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marla M. Holt ◽  
Brandon L. Southall ◽  
David Kastak ◽  
Ronald J. Schusterman ◽  
Colleen Reichmuth Kastak
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Integration ◽  
Harbor Seal ◽  
Auditory Sensitivity ◽  
Signal Duration ◽  
Sea Lion ◽  
California Sea Lion

scholarly journals Pinnipeds orient and control their whiskers: a study on Pacific walrus, California sea lion and Harbor seal

2020 ◽  
Vol 206 (3) ◽  
pp. 441-451
Author(s):  
Alyxandra O. Milne ◽  
Catherine Smith ◽  
Llwyd D. Orton ◽  
Matthew S. Sullivan ◽  
Robyn A. Grant
Keyword(s):  
Harbor Seal ◽  
Pacific Walrus ◽  
Sea Lion ◽  
California Sea Lion ◽  
And Control

Pupillometry in seals and sea lions: ecological implications

1997 ◽  
Vol 75 (12) ◽  
pp. 2050-2057 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Hendrik Levenson ◽  
Ronald J. Schusterman
Keyword(s):  
Sensory Modality ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
Harbor Seal ◽  
Elephant Seal ◽  
Mirounga Angustirostris ◽  
Sea Lion ◽  
Northern Elephant Seal ◽  
California Sea Lion ◽  
Sea Lions ◽  
Light Levels

Phocid and otariid pinnipeds forage almost exclusively under water, where observing them is difficult. As a result, little is known of how their senses are used while diving to locate and capture prey. In this study we used pupillometric methods to describe the relative visual abilities of three pinniped species: the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris), the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina), and the California sea lion (Zalophus californianus). The range of pupillary area and lower limit of pupillary adjustment were determined for each species. The northern elephant seal exhibited the largest range of pupillary area of the species examined. Furthermore, the elephant seal's pupil was found to reach maximum size only under extremely dim conditions. Both the harbor seal and California sea lion exhibited maximum pupillary dilation in conditions several log units brighter. These results indicate that the elephant seal's visual system is designed to function in dimmer conditions and to respond to greater changes in light levels than those of the harbor seal and sea lion. Such findings support the hypothesis that the visual systems of these pinnipeds are adapted for use in their respective foraging environments, and thus suggest that the visual sense is probably an important sensory modality used to locate and capture prey while diving.

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