Los Islotes
This morning at Los Islotes we encountered two species of marine mammals in the bright, clear water of the Gulf of California. California sea lions, Zalophus californianus, greeted us with noisy barking as we approached, shortly after sunrise. Everywhere we looked we could see the sleek muscular animals lounging in singles and piles on the red volcanic rocks or leaping and splashing in the sea below. Nearby and in the air above we observed magnificent frigatebirds, brown and blue-footed boobies, yellow-footed gulls and several other species, adding their voices to the general cacophony. Soon, during a Zodiac tour around the base of the cliffs, the sea lions introduced themselves and cordially invited us to join them for a swim, an invitation eagerly accepted by a number of our ship’s company.
Once in the water, we began to observe a second variety of marine mammal known to scientists as Homo sapiens peregrinus but commonly called the traveler. This peripatetic species is found broadly around the globe and is particularly noted for its curiosity about its environment. Exhibiting a rainbow of different colored feet bright enough to put the boobies to shame, these new arrivals proved to be quite active, splashing at the surface and occasionally diving briefly. Though the sea lions were generally somewhat more graceful and a great deal faster, the two species appeared to interact very happily, swimming circles around each other and blowing bubbles back and forth. No feeding was observed at this time, in fact both species seemed to be engaging in purely play behavior.
Before too long the travelers continued their nomadic wanderings, heading south where they were later observed using tools called kayaks and foraging at a beach barbecue. The sea lions went back to sleep.
This morning at Los Islotes we encountered two species of marine mammals in the bright, clear water of the Gulf of California. California sea lions, Zalophus californianus, greeted us with noisy barking as we approached, shortly after sunrise. Everywhere we looked we could see the sleek muscular animals lounging in singles and piles on the red volcanic rocks or leaping and splashing in the sea below. Nearby and in the air above we observed magnificent frigatebirds, brown and blue-footed boobies, yellow-footed gulls and several other species, adding their voices to the general cacophony. Soon, during a Zodiac tour around the base of the cliffs, the sea lions introduced themselves and cordially invited us to join them for a swim, an invitation eagerly accepted by a number of our ship’s company.
Once in the water, we began to observe a second variety of marine mammal known to scientists as Homo sapiens peregrinus but commonly called the traveler. This peripatetic species is found broadly around the globe and is particularly noted for its curiosity about its environment. Exhibiting a rainbow of different colored feet bright enough to put the boobies to shame, these new arrivals proved to be quite active, splashing at the surface and occasionally diving briefly. Though the sea lions were generally somewhat more graceful and a great deal faster, the two species appeared to interact very happily, swimming circles around each other and blowing bubbles back and forth. No feeding was observed at this time, in fact both species seemed to be engaging in purely play behavior.
Before too long the travelers continued their nomadic wanderings, heading south where they were later observed using tools called kayaks and foraging at a beach barbecue. The sea lions went back to sleep.
