Question

Sea lion belongs to
A. Class Reptilia
B. Subclass Prototheria
C. Superclass Pisces
D. Order Carnivora

Answer 1

The animals are classified on the basis of their characteristics for the ease of identification. The characters that are present in a particular group of organisms are common for all the classified organisms.

Complete answer:
Sea lions are a widely distributed clade of semiaquatic animals found in marine waters. They are known as pinnipeds or commonly known as seals. The sea lions are characterized by distinct features such as external ear flaps and long fore flippers. They bear short, thick hairs with a big chest and belly. They are able to walk on all their four limbs.
The sea lion belongs to the family Otariidae. They are classified along with the fur seals and they are collectively known as eared seals. The family Otariidae comprise of about 15 extant species in about seven genera. The Otariidae belong to the order Carnivora clade Pinnipedia. They are classified on the basis of small but visible external flaps or pinnae. Sea lions are carnivorous aquatic animals eating mainly squids, other molluscs and crustaceans.
The sea lions are adapted to a semi aquatic lifestyle, feeding and migration in the water. They also utilize the land for purposes such as breeding and resting. They are found in the sub polar, temperate and equatorial aquatic areas that occur throughout the Pacific and Southern Oceans. They are also found in the areas of the southern Indian Ocean as well as the Atlantic Ocean. However, they are not found in the northern Atlantic Ocean.
Class Reptilia are represented by tetrapod animals that are land dwellers, cold blooded animals with dry, rough and glandless skin. It is represented by organisms such as lizards, snakes and crocodiles.
Superclass Pisces are the aquatic organism organisms with paired fins. They are jawed vertebrates and are cold blooded.
Subclass Prototheria is represented by the egg laying mammals or the monotremes and are known by the egg laying platypus and echidnas.

Hence, the correct answer is option (D).

Note: The sea lions are commonly known as seals and are classified under the clade Pinnipedia of Superclass Carnivora of Mammalia. These organisms spend their life both on the aquatic conditions as well as land and contain external flippers and pinnae.