Robin W. Baird and Pam J. Stacey
Canadian Field-Naturalist 103:426-428. 1989.
Observations on the reactions of California sea lions (Zalophus
californianus) and Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus)
to the presence of foraging transient killer whales (Orcinus orca)
were made on three occasions. Alert and avoidance responses by sea
lions were made in the presence of killer whales of typical
appearence. In the presence of a single, foraging killer whale of
atypical appearance, no alert or avoidance response was observed. It
is possible that the sea lions did not recognize the atypical whale
as a killer whale, suggesting that sea lions may have a perceptual
"search image" for the detection of predators, based on visual cues.
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