Mammals · Carnivora · Otariidae

Californian Sea Lion

Zalophus californianus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

It is one of the most intelligent and trainable pinnipeds, which is why it is a familiar sight in shows and in naval research programmes on echolocation.

Weight

50 kg – 400 kg

Size

1.5 m – 2.5 m

Lifespan

17 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Diurnal

Active mainly during the day.

Social structure

Hierarchical pack

Lives in an organised hierarchical group, typical of cooperative hunters.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

OceanCarnivore Diurnal In packs Ocean Mammal

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Fun facts

It is one of the most intelligent and trainable pinnipeds in the world.
Males grow a prominent bony sagittal crest on the head when they reach sexual maturity.
It is a regular subject of US naval research programmes on echolocation.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Coasts of the eastern Pacific from Canada to Mexico, favouring areas altered by people
Birth weight: 5-6 kg and ~75 cm long at birth
Size at birth: 5-6 kg and ~75 cm at birth
Sexual maturity: 4-5 years
Gestation / incubation: ~11-11.5 months, with ~3 months of delayed implantation
Litter / clutch size: 1 young per birth
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 35.7 years

Sources consulted: Animal Diversity Web; A-Z Animals (Grey Seal, comparative); AnAge (genomics.senescence.info); Ocean Connections; Wikipedia (Zalophus); Michigan State University Brain Museum