The Family Otariidae includes the eared seals, such as sea lions and fur seals. Unlike true seals, otariids have external ear flaps and rotatable hind flippers, allowing them to walk on land as well as swim. They are typically social animals, forming large breeding colonies on coasts and islands. Otariids are carnivorous, feeding mainly on fish and squid, and are highly agile swimmers capable of long-distance foraging. Found in temperate and subpolar regions of both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, they play important roles as apex marine predators and are often key species in marine ecosystems.