California sea lion
Zalophus californianus
- Scientific name
- Zalophus californianus
- Group
- Marine mammals
- Rarity
- Rare
- Where to see it
- Cold / polar waters
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Least concern
Did you know?
Highly vocal and intelligent, it can be trained to perform complex tasks, and its hind flippers rotate forward, letting it walk and even climb over rocks on land — unlike true seals.
What defines this group — Marine mammals
Warm-blooded, they nurse their young and breathe air — the group closest to us underwater.
- They breathe through a blowhole (whales, dolphins) or nostrils (seals, sea lions).
- A thick layer of blubber, rather than fur, insulates them from the cold.
- Many navigate and hunt by sound, using echolocation.