Guide to Identification of Pinniped Skulls of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary

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Guide to Identification of Pinniped Skulls of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Guide to Identification of Pinniped Skulls of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary California Sea Lion (CSLI) Harbor Seal (HASE) Northern Elephant Seal (NESE) Skull: Strong sexual dimorphism; triangular postorbital Skull: Minimal sexual dimorphism; no postorbital Skull: Strong sexual dimorphism; no postorbital processes; wide intraorbital region; adult male has processes; narrow intraorbital region; large auditory processes, large nasal shelf pronounced sagittal crest bullae (on ventral side, not shown in photo) Scapula: Large with two ridges Scapula: Comma-shaped with a single ridge Scapula: Large, fan-shaped with a single ridge Teeth: Postcanine teeth usually bearing at least 3 Teeth: Unicuspid post canines with strong cingulum Teeth: Very large canines, postcanines reduced and cusps (mountainous); upper incisors of uniform size often bearing accessory cusplets; upper postcanines peglike, lacking cusps; total of 2 lower incisors generally uniformly spaced; third upper incisor enlarged Photos: S. Pemberton, California Academy of Sciences Guide to Identification of Pinniped Skulls of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary Steller Sea Lion (SSLI) Northern Fur Seal (NOFS) Guadalupe Fur Seal (GUFS) Skull: Strong sexual dimorphism; adult male has no Skull: Obvious sexual dimorphism; postorbital Skull: Strong sexual dimorphism (no male pictured); obvious sagittal crest; square or rectangular postorbital processes point back; greatest width across nasals postorbital processes point outwards; greatest width processes; wide intraorbital region almost equaling their length (snout short) across nasals about one-half their length (snout long) Scapula: Very large with two ridges Scapula: Small with two ridges Teeth: Large canines; unicuspid postcanines, no cusplets; wide gap separating last upper postcanine Teeth: Large canines; unicuspid postcanines with from its predecessor in adults; third upper incisor possible minor cusplets; third upper incisor enlarged enlarged Photos: S. Pemberton, California Academy of Sciences .
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