Zalophus japonicus

– Extinct

Taxonomy

Kingdom:

ANIMALIA

Phylum:

CHORDATA

Class:

MAMMALIA

Order:

CARNIVORA

Family:

OTARIIDAE

Scientific Name:

Zalophus japonicus

Species Authority:

(Peters, 1866)

Synonym/s:

Zalophus californianus ssp. japonicus (Peters, 1866)

Common Name/s:

English

—

JAPANESE SEA LION

Taxonomic Notes:

Was listed before 2003 as Z. californianus ssp. japonicus. Raised to species level following Wozencraft in Wilson and Reeder (2005): "Rice (1998), followed here, argued for the retention of japonicus, californianus, and wollenbaeki as distinct species. Itoo (1985) concluded that japonicus was distinct, and behavioral differences separate californianus and wollenbaeki (Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 1984). But see Scheffer (1958) who recognized these populations at the subspecies level."

Assessment Information

Red List Category & Criteria:

EX ver 2.3 (1994)

Year Assessed:

1996

Annotations:

Needs updating

Assessor/s:

Seal Specialist Group

Justification:

There have been no documented reports of Z. japonicus since the late 1950s. The last credible report was 50 to 60 individuals on Takeshima in 1951 (Rice 1998). Individual sightings reported as recently as 1974 and 1975, cannot be confirmed as confusion with escaped Z. californianus cannot be ruled out.

History:

1986	-	Endangered as Z. californianus japonicus (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1986)
1988	-	Endangered as Z. californianus japonicus (IUCN Conservation Monitoring Centre 1988)
1990	-	Extinct? as Z. californianus japonicus (IUCN 1990)
1994	-	Extinct as Z. californianus japonicus (Groombridge 1994)
1996	-	Extinct as Z. californianus japonicus (Baillie and Groombridge 1996)

Geographic Range

Range Description:	Z. japonicus is formerly known from the northwest Pacific where it occurred along the coasts of Japan, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and the Republic of Korea.
Countries:	Regionally extinct: Japan; Korea, Democratic People's Republic of; Korea, Republic of

Population

Population:

There have been no documented reports of the species since the late 1950s.

Habitat and Ecology

Habitat and Ecology:	The species was known to occupy marine waters and coastal areas. Rarely found more than 16 km out to sea and frequently hauling onto shore areas throughout the year, Zalophus breeds mainly on flat, open, sandy beaches, and sometimes in rocky areas.
System:	Terrestrial; Marine

Threats

Threats:

Sea lions have been captured for the circus trade and have also been exploited for their skin and oil. Certain internal organs were also valuable in Oriental medicine and its whiskers were reportedly used as pipe cleaners. However, the main reason for the extinction of the Japanese Sealion is thought to be persecution by fishermen.

Citation:	Seal Specialist Group 1996. Zalophus japonicus. In: IUCN 2007. 2007 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. <www.iucnredlist.org>. Downloaded on 29 August 2008.
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