THE SOUTHERN SEA LION, OTARIA BYRONIA OR OTARIA FLAVESCENS?

: The status of the specific name of the Southern sea lion is controversial; currently two names are in use: Otaria flavescens (Shaw, 1800) and Otaria byronia (de Blainville, 1820). The former was based on a two‐foot‐long yellowish otariid collected in the Strait of Magellan and the 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 identification was uncertain. This paper focuses on analyzing the main features of Shaw's holotype (body length, ear size, and hair color), which fit with the features of a Southern sea lion pup. As this was a tangible specimen from a valid locality and has priority over other available epithets, the specific name of the Southern sea lion should be Otaria flavescens (Shaw, 1800).