ABSTRACT
The aim of this paper is to describe nurturing and abusive behavior to young in selected species of two families of pinnipeds, the phocids and otariids, attempt to explain the phenomena observed from a functional or proximal perspective, and compare the behaviors seen in pinnipeds to those observed in other large mammals. We focus on the most thoroughly studied species, such as the elephant seals, Mirounga angustirostris, and M. leonina, and the southern sea lion, Otaria byronia, and incorporate observations from other species when possible.
