California Sea Lion
Scientific Name: Zalophus californianus
Range: California sea lions inhabit parts of Vancouver Island, British Columbia, to Baja California, Mexico
Habitat: Sea lions spend the majority of their time in the water and breed on land. They rest on rocky or sandy beaches along the coast.
Size: Males are about 7 feet in length while females are about 6 feet in length.
Weight: Males weigh around 850 pounds but can reach 1,000 pounds while females weight about 220 pounds.
Lifespan: 15-25 years
Diet: fish, squid, shellfish
Predators: great white sharks, killer whales
Conservation Status: not endangered
Did You Know?
• Sea lions are very intelligent. In fact, their intelligence is often compared to that of dogs.
• Sea lions bark to communicate.
• Mother sea lions recognize their pups through sight, smell, and sound. They usually have only one pup at a time.
• Sea lions often jump out of the water while swimming to increase their speed.
• Sea lions are very playful and enjoy being social, oftentimes congregating in groups.
• Sea lions are very adaptable and are comfortable in a variety of coastal habitats.
• Male California sea lions claim territories during breeding season. A male will occupy his territory for about two weeks and guard it like a hawk, not even taking a break to find food.
Download the Animal Atlas California Sea Lion's Wallpaper here!!
