This family of 7 Recent genera and 14 species occurs along the coasts of northeastern Asia, western North America, South America, southern Africa, southern Australia, New Zealand, and many, predominantly southern, oceanic islands. The fur seals are in the genera Callorhinus and Arctocephalus, and the sea lions are in Eumetopias, Zalophus, Otaria, Neophoca, and Phocarctos. They did indicate, however, that the latter is phylogenetically nearer to the sea lions than is the former.
Body form is slender and elongated, and the tail is small but always distinct.
External ears are present, but they are small and entirely cartilaginous. The long, oarlike flippers bear rudimentary nails. The flippers, which are thick and cartilaginous, are thickest at the leading edge and have a smooth, leathery surface. In both the Otariidae and the Odobenidae, the hind flippers can be turned forward to help support the body, so that all four limbs can be used for traveling on land. Members of these two families walk or run on land in a somewhat doglike fashion.