Sea lion characteristics: Webbed flipper-like forefoot and hind foot. Front flipper thicker on front edge. Skin of flipper extends past tips of toe bones, supported by individual cartilages attached to ends of toe bones. Noticeable claws on three middle toes of hind foot; other claws tiny and inconspicuous. Front flipper triangular; hind flipper rectangular. Hind limb can be advanced forward—can walk, but thigh and lower leg encased in skin of abdomen (seals can't walk—their hind limbs permanently extended backward). Elbow also enclosed in body skin, but forearms are free. Body streamlined (torpedo-shaped) for swimming. Thick insulating blubber layer between. | 200 SEA LION ANATOMY FROM SPECIMEN AFTER BLAINVILLE Sea lion characteristics Webbed flipper-like forefoot and hind foot. Front flipper thicker on front edge. Skin of flipper extends past tips of toe bones supported by individual cartilages attached to ends of toe bones. Noticeable claws on three middle toes of hind foot other claws tiny and inconspicuous. Front flipper triangular hind flipper rectangular. Hind limb can be advanced forward can walk but thigh and lower leg encased in skin of abdomen seals can t walk their hind limbs permanently extended backward . Elbow also enclosed in body skin but forearms are free. Body streamlined torpedo-shaped for swimming. Thick insulating blubber layer between skin and muscles. Thick flexible muscular neck. Pelvis and femur small. Sternum has forward projection. Small external ears present absent in seals . Ears and slit-like nostrils can be closed under water. Short stubby tail. Very short hair fur much darker when wet. Body uniform in color no spots . Males larger than females. Closely related to terrestrial carnivores. Pinniped is not scientific classification but means fin footed. AbDIL Abductor digit I longus BiFem Biceps femoris Brcph Brachiocephalicus Brrad Brachioradialis Bucc Buccinator Delt Deltoid Dlgas Digastric ECRB Extensor carpi radialis brevis ECRL Extensor carpi radialis longus ECU Extensor carpi ulnaris EDI Extensor digiti I ED1L Extensor digit I longus EDBr Extensor digitorum brevis EDC Extensor digitorum communis EDLat Extensor digitorum lateralis EDLon Extensor digitorum longus ExAbO External abdominal oblique FCR Flexor carpi radialis FCU Flexor carpi ulnaris FD1L Flexor digiti I longus FDP Flexor digitorum profundus FDS Flexor digitorum superficialis Gastr Gastrocnemius GluMe Gluteus medius GluSu Gluteus superficialis Grac Gracilis llioc lliocostalis LatDo Latissimus dorsi LeNas Levator nasolabialis LLaMx Levator labii maxillaris Longi Longissimus Mass Masseter Myloh Mylohyoid Omohy Omohyoid OrOc .
