Mammal · GBIF taxon 2433458
California Sea Lion
Zalophus californianusCalifornia sea lions are vocal, highly social marine mammals famous for their barking calls and energetic underwater acrobatics. Adult males develop a prominent raised forehead known as a sagittal crest, along with a thick neck and massive upper body. During the breeding season, they establish noisy beach territories along rocky coastlines and piers before spending months foraging across coastal waters.
Marine MammalVocalCoastal
1 / 7—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Market Squid
- Northern Anchovy
- Pacific Sardine
Predators
- Orca
- Great White Shark
ThreatsMarine debris entanglement, toxic algal blooms, fishing gear conflict
HabitatsCoastal waters, rocky shores, sandy beaches, marinas
Life span15–25 years
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderCarnivora
- FamilyOtariidae
- GenusZalophus
- SpeciesZalophus californianus
N. Pacific
Marine distribution — the ocean basins and seas where the species occurs.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Large animals can bite or charge if crowded on docks or beaches; keep at least 15 meters distance.
- Why it is dangerous
- Massive body size and strong jaws with sharp teeth can inflict deep puncture wounds and crushing injuries if surprised or cornered.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for visible external ear flaps, long front flippers used for walking, and loud barking calls on docks or jetties.
- What to do
- Maintain a safe distance of at least 15 meters and never block an animal's direct path to open water.
Responsible observation
- Keep Distance: Maintain at least 15 meters of space on beaches and docks to avoid provoking defensive behavior.
- Observe Quietly: Watch underwater acrobatics and haul-out behavior without making sudden movements or high-pitched noises.
- Never Feed: Offering food alters natural foraging patterns and encourages aggressive begging behavior around boats.
Frequent Companion (c) Bart, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Bart · cc-by
Sympatric Pinniped Charles J. Sharp / CC BY-SA 4.0 · cc-by-sa
Predator (c) Martín Acosta Albarracín, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Martín Acosta Albarracín · cc-by
Close Relative Wikimedia Commons / Public domain · cc0
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