#0209 · 🦊 mammals

California Sea Lion

🇳🇱 Californische Zeeleeuw ·Zalophus californianus

LCleast concern 🦊 Mammals 📍 outside Europe

8 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

what is it?

The California sea lion ( Zalophus californianus ) is a coastal eared seal native to western North America. It is one of six species of sea lion. Its natural habitat ranges from southeast Alaska to central Mexico, including the Gulf of California. Sea lions are sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females, and have a thicker neck and protruding crest. They mainly haul-out on sandy or rocky beaches, but they also frequent manmade environments such as marinas and...

base stats

NL sightings 0iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 44,015iNaturalist observations
threat LCleast concern

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

No confirmed wild sightings in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: you'd have to travel for this one.
44,015 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named by René Lesson in 1828 (198 years ago).