Sea cat A sea cat , also known as a sea lion , was a magical beast that combined the features of a lion and a fish . It was a ferocious predator of the seas . Description . The sea cat bore the head and forepaws of a lion but a body and tail similar to those of a fish or of a porpoise of small whale . It had a mane of silky hair running from the top of its head and down its back to its tail flukes . They were depicted as having either tan fur and fish - like scales or green skin and reptilian scales . A full - grown sea cat grew to a length of 12 feet ( 3 . 6 meters ) or even 15 feet ( 4 . 5 meters ) , and it weighed up to 800 pounds ( 360 kilograms ) . Abilities . Sea cats were talented natural swimmers , though not as good as sea horse s . Being mammalian , a sea cat apparently risked drowning if it stayed too long underwater . It could hold its breath underwater for about 10 minutes . On the other hand , sea lions were also reported to have gills , allowing them to extract oxygen from water . The sea lion ' s thick scales had a water - proofing ability , allowing it to survive out of water for up to 24 hours , after which time its gills dried out and no longer functioned . If the sea lion was constantly supplied with water in its mouth , it could survive for a full week . After this time , its scales dried and cracked , permitting disease to take hold , while the sea lion typically starved . The roar of a sea lion carried for up to 10 miles underwater . The sea cat could track by scent . Behavior . Having only animal intelligence , sea cats were highly aggressive and territorial . They would assault any creature , no matter how large or dangerous , that trespassed in their domains . Combat . When they saw food or a threat , sea cats attacked on sight , with pairs or prides working together to overcome an opponent . They were possessed of awesome courage and would fight to the death , even against much larger and much deadlier foes . They could attack with either claws or fangs , but would only fight one foe at a time . If they got both paws on a creature , they latched on tight , rending and mauling their victim . It had a tough scaly hide for defense , and the thick mane provided additional protection to the head region . Ecology . Although an uncommon aquatic creature , sea cats were generally found in shallow coastal waters . They made their lairs in underwater caves and even in wrecked ships . They were active during daylight hours . They were carnivorous and would hunt and eat almost any kind of creature they could catch , typically fish , aquatic mammals like dolphin or whale , sea birds , and dinosaur s . They would even take herd animals drinking at the shore . They were even known to use their paws to drag themselves up a beach in search of prey , unafraid to go up to 140 feet ( 40 meters ) inland , though this was rare . Sea cats had a special enmity for sharks , often going out of their way to hunt them down and attack them . They had little trouble killing most sharks . However , they never ate the carcass , and seemed to find the taste of shark flesh disgusting . Why this was so is unclear . Although some sages supposed this was a conflict fought between lesser nature deities , the more mundane reason was that it was a result of natural competition between two predators occupying the same ecological niche . Among sea cats , both males and females cared for their young and hunted for food . Males were superior hunters , however , unlike convention lions . If not travelling alone or in pairs , sea cats gathered into packs called " prides " . Numbering up to twelve individuals , they were structured like prides of lions on land , with the strongest ( that is , the most resilient ) sea cat as the leader . Occasionally , sea cat prides who wandered close together formed temporary alliances with which to handle especially dangerous creatures that trespassed in their territories . These alliances lasted only until the opponent was slain , and their territorial nature reared again . The resident leader would refuse to allow the visiting pride to share in the meal , and the two pride leaders might fight for dominance . If the resident leader won , then the visitors left without any meat . If the visiting leader won , the visitors would take first picks of the meat then leave the rest to the resident pride . However , the defeated resident leader would be weakened and likely deposed , even slain , by one of their own pride . Reputation . Sea lion attacks caused fear among coastal dwellers , more so than a shark attack , owing to their potential to strike inland . Still , they were considered a minor danger , comparable to sharks but not even close to , say , kraken s . Sea lions were the symbol and namesake of the Lions ' Dynasty of Tethyr , because of a tale of how Prince Nearel used a magic horn to summon a pack of them to defend against a band of assassins . Uses . One could keep a sea lion alive in captivity , but it was extremely difficult . Restrictions on its domain were psychologically damaging to the animal , and it would eventually die . However , assuming one could preserve it and train it , and survive , sea lions were known to be the most loyal and powerful mounts available on or under the waves . They were especially effective as guardians and hunters — the long range of their roar gave sufficient time for their masters to prepare for an assault or send reinforcements . Regions . Sea lions were found in the seas of Kara - Tur , such as in the waters around Koryo . Sea lion prides menaced sailors in the Straits of Koryo between the island of Saishu and the mainland Koryo Peninsula , but the fishermen of In ' ani and Ansong , on either side of the straits , had eliminated these prides before 1357 DR . This was one of the reasons they were claimed to be the best fishermen in the world . However , one pride continued to harass shipping around In ' ani itself , so governor Dan Zor sought adventurers to destroy them . Appendix . Background . The sea cat , formerly known as a sea lion , is likely based on the figure of heraldry , commonly associated with the Philippines . Similar to the heraldic sea - lion is the icon of Singapore .