Sea lions, like many marine mammals, are equipped with a unique set of adaptations that help them regulate their body temperature in the often harsh and changeable marine environment. The reason they look up is that the capillaries in their skin are close to the surface and can catch sunbeams to warm their body.
When sea lions get too warm, they put their flippers into the water to cool down. The flippers contain a high concentration of blood vessels, which can absorb heat quickly.
By raising their flippers back into the air, they then allow the heat to escape through the process of evaporation. This helps sea lions regulate their body temperature and maintain a comfortable internal environment.
In addition to looking up, sea lions also have other strategies for controlling their body temperature. For example, they can alter their metabolic rate, which affects how much heat they produce.
They can also control the amount of insulation they have by changing the thickness of their blubber layer. These strategies, along with their ability to look up, help sea lions maintain a stable internal environment in the face of changing external conditions.
Sea lions are known for their agility and intelligence. They are able to navigate complex environments and find food sources with ease.
In addition, they are social animals and live in large colonies, where they communicate with each other using vocalizations, body language, and other cues. These social behaviors are believed to play a role in their ability to regulate their body temperature and survive in the marine environment.