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California sea lion

mammal
Also known as: Zalophus californianus

Quick Summary

The California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) is a brown sea lion found along the Pacific coast of North America, from Vancouver Island to Baja California and the Gulf of California, as well as in the Galapagos Islands. They are eared seals, meaning they can rotate their hind flippers forward to move on land, and have longer flippers than true seals.12

California sea lions are known for being playful and are often trained for performances. Males can reach up to 2.5 meters (8 feet) and weigh 400 kg (880 pounds), while females are smaller, around 1.8 meters and 90 kg. They are fast swimmers and divers, primarily feeding on fish, crustaceans, and squid.2

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