California sea lion

캘리포니아바다사자

An eared seal that can lift itself onto its front flippers and walk on land. Clever, playful and loud, it barks constantly, and big males can weigh more than 200 kg.

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At a glance

Class: Mammals
Diet: Fish eater
Length: about 2.1 m
Top speed: about 40 km/h
Lifespan: up to about 30 years
Conservation status: Least Concern (IUCN LC)
Habitat: coasts

Quick answers

Where does the California sea lion live?

It lives in coasts of the Pacific Ocean.

How big is the California sea lion?

It grows to about 2.1 m.

What does the California sea lion eat?

Its diet: fish eater.

How fast is the California sea lion?

It can reach about 40 km/h.

How long does the California sea lion live?

It can live up to about 30 years.

Is the California sea lion endangered?

It is listed as Least Concern (IUCN LC).

The California sea lion is a coastal eared seal of western North America. Its range runs from southeast Alaska to central Mexico, including the Gulf of California. It hauls out on sandy and rocky beaches, and also on marinas and wharves, and feeds on fish and squid.

Males are larger than females, with a thicker neck and a bony bump on the head called a sagittal crest. Clever, playful and loud, it barks constantly. Sea lions are one of six species in the group of sea lions. Orcas and great white sharks are their main predators. Males have a protruding sagittal crest and a thicker neck.

Breeding season

From May to August males set up territories on the beach and try to attract females. The females are free to move between territories. Mothers nurse their pups and go out to sea to feed in between. Outside the breeding season they spend much time at sea but come ashore to moult. Sea lions walk on all four flippers on land, which seals cannot do.

Smart and trainable

California sea lions are intelligent and can be trained for various tasks, so they are popular in zoos and aquariums, and even the US Navy trains them for certain jobs. Orcas and great white sharks hunt them. The IUCN lists them as Least Concern because they are common. Males defend their beach territories loudly, and mothers recognise their own pups by calls. Oregon and Washington carry out yearly kill quotas to protect fish.

Fun facts

Unlike true seals, sea lions have external ear flaps and can walk on all four flippers.
Sea lions have ear flaps, unlike true seals.
Males and females look different in size and head shape.
The US Navy trains California sea lions for some tasks.