THE SOUTHERN SEA LION, OTARIA-BYRONIA OR OTARIA-FLAVESCENS

The status of the specific name of the Southern sea lion is controvers ial; currently two names are in use: Otaria flavescens (Shaw, 1800) an d Otaria byronia (de Blainville, 1820). The former was based on a two- foot-long yellowish otariid collected in the Strait of Magellan and th e latter on a skull stated to have been collected on the Tinian Island (Marianas Archipelago); unfortunately both holotypes are lost. Otaria flavescens has date priority over Otaria byronia, but its identificat ion was uncertain. This paper focuses on analyzing the main features o f Shaw's holotype (body length, ear size, and hair color), which fit w ith the features of a Southern sea lion pup. As this was a tangible sp ecimen from a valid locality and has priority over other available epi thets, the specific name of the Southern sea lion should be Otaria fla vescens (Shaw, 1800).