Stock Photo - South American Sea Lion Otaria flavescens hauled out on small rocky islet just outside Ushuaia, Argentina in the Beagle Channel The South American sea lion is perhaps the archetypal sea lion in appearance Males have a very large head with a well developed mane making them the most lionesque of the eared seals Males are much larger and heavier than females, reaching a length of over 2 8 meters and 350 kg while the females reach 2 2 meters and 144 kg South American sea lions were greatly hunted in the 19th and 20th centuries The hunting has since gone down and the species is no longer threatened and is protected in most of its range The population estimate is 265,000 animals They are increasing in Argentina and Chile but are declining in the Falkland Islands and Uruguay They still are killed due the sea lions´ habits of stealing fish and damaging fishing nets