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Californian sea lion - ZALOPHUS CALIFORNIANUS
Class: Animals with Milk Glands (Mammalia)
The Name "Sea lion": "Sea lion," as in lion of the sea because of its roar or its whiskers.
Location: The coast of California; the Galapagos Islands; coastal Japan.
Habitat: Coastal waters and rocky coastlines
Description: The coat is chocolate brown with a few paler areas. Males have a large and impressive mane. The sagittal crest is pronounced, and gives a conspicuous raised shape to the forehead. These male sealions reach over seven feet long, and weigh more than 600 pounds, with the females about 75% of length and 33% of weight of the males.
Behavior: It lives in large groups in rocky areas. These are cautious animals, and they dive into the water at any sign of danger. They feed on fishes and mollusks, but seem to avoid the larger deep-sea fish. They have a wide range of vocal sounds.
Reproduction: Between May and June, the males become territorial and guard harems of about 15 females each. Gestation lasts about 12 months, and the single pup is born the following year. It nurses for two to three months, but remains with its mother for several more months.
Note: This sealion is the common one found in zoos and circuses, where it is easily tamed and trained.
Go to the Carnivora Page to learn more about the all the meat-eating animals.
Go to the Steller Sea Lion for
another Sea Lion listed in America Zoo.
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