Zalophus japonicus ( Peters, 1866 )

Jo, Yeong-Seok, Baccus, John T. & Koprowski, John L., 2018, Mammals of Korea: a review of their taxonomy, distribution and conservation status, Zootaxa 4522 (1), pp. 1-216 : 94-96

Zalophus japonicus ( Peters, 1866) —Japanese Sea Lion (extinct)

Otaria japonica Peters, 1866 p.668 ; Type locality- Japan.

Zalophus lobatus: Kuroda, 1938 p.23 .

Z. californianus: Won, 1968 p.329 ; Corbet, 1978 p.186; Won & Smith, 1999 p.29; Kim, 2004 p.188.

Z. californianus japonicus: Kim, 2004 p.189 .

Range: Historically, the distribution of Z. japonicus extended in the East Sea with the main breeding site at Ulleung-Island and Dok-Island (Association of Natural Parks in Korea 1978). Fifty to 60 individuals were reported on Dok-Island in 1951 ( Rice 1998) and one pup was found on Dok-Island in 1959. The last individual was observed on Dok-Island in 1973 (Association of Natural Parks in Korea 1978; Fig. 62 ).

Remarks: Many authors considered Z. japonicus as a subspecies of Z. californianus . Rice (1998) argued for the retention of Z. californianus , Z. japonicus , and Z. wollebaeki as distinct species. Based on new studies of skull morphology, Brunner (2004) also argued for distinct species status. Wolf et al. (2007) used molecular data (mtDNA, microsatellites and SNPs) to advocate recognition of the California, Japanese and Galapagos sea lions as separate species ( Berta & Churchill 2012).

Conservation status: The Ministry of Environment of South Korea designated Z. japonicus as an Endangered Species in 1997, but the ministry delisted this species in 2012 and announced its extinction. However, no comprehensive survey throughout the range of the species has occurred to determine the status of Z. japonicus . The Ministry of Land, Transports and Maritime Affairs designated Z. japonicus as a Protected Marine Species in 2007 and retained this listing despite evidence of extinction.

Figures

FIGURE 62. Range map of Zalophus japonicus in Korea.