# sea lion hydration **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 25, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-lion-hydration/256809 "2004-07-25T15:45:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![dig-e-dog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@dig-e-dog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dig-e-dog)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2004, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-lion-hydration/256809/1 "2004-07-25T15:45:15Z")
I work on an OSRV (Oil Spill Response Vessel) stationed near Point Conception, just off of the Central Coast of California. The Crew and I have observed lots of sea lions and we got into a discussion about their fresh water intake. None of us know they get their fresh water, and by looking in a few marine mammal reference books I couldn’t find it either. Does anyone know? ---
**Author:** ![Q.E.D](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/51bf81/32.png) [@Q.E.D](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Q.E.D)\ **Post date:** [July 25, 2004, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sea-lion-hydration/256809/2 "2004-07-25T15:50:54Z")
> [@](#): > > Although some marine mammals are known to drink seawater at least on occasion, it is not well established that they routinely do so. They have other options: sea-dwelling mammals can get water through their food, and they can produce it internally from the metabolic breakdown of food (water is one of the by-products of carbohydrate and fat metabolism). > > … > > In contrast, marine mammals that feed on fish consume food with a salt content similar to that of their own blood, thereby avoiding the problem entirely. Indeed, a study of California sea lions showed that, on a diet of fish, these animals can live without drinking fresh water at all. From [this article.](http://www.sciam.com/askexpert_question.cfm?articleID=000DBE8D-633A-1C72-9EB7809EC588F2D7).