AnimalTracks.wiki

What the sources say

California Sea LionZalophus californianus

Every figure, record and mechanism on the California Sea Lion profile was written from a source, and this is the working table behind it: 45 claims checked word for word against these sources. The left column is what the page says. The right column is the source's own words, copied, not paraphrased; a ... marks a cut and[brackets] an insertion. Open any source and check it yourself.

Profile updated

Source
01

NOAA Fisheries

California Sea Lion. NOAA Fisheries.

The page saysMales bark like dogs, and a mother can find her pup among hundreds by its call.
The source saysCalifornia sea lion males bark like dogs to communicate with other males and females. ... A female can locate her pup among hundreds of others by her pup’s vocalization.Note: tagline
The page saysCoastal waters of the eastern North Pacific, from southeast Alaska to central Mexico
The source saysCalifornia sea lions live in the shallow waters of the eastern North Pacific Ocean. ... California sea lions range from southeast Alaska to the Pacific coast of central Mexico.Note: stats.habitat
The page saysSquid, anchovies, mackerel, rockfish and sardines
The source saysThey eat a variety of prey—such as squid, anchovies, mackerel, rockfish, and sardinesNote: stats.diet
The page saysCalifornia sea lions are "eared seals"
The source saysCalifornia sea lions are “eared seals” native to the West Coast of North America.
The page saysthey live along the West Coast of North America
The source saysCalifornia sea lions are “eared seals” native to the West Coast of North America.
The page saysMales bark like dogs to talk to other males and females
The source saysCalifornia sea lion males bark like dogs to communicate with other males and females.
The page saysA mother and her pup trade calls unique to the pair.
The source saysFemales and pups communicate using vocalizations that are unique to the female and pup.
The page saysMales start holding breeding territories at around 9 to 12 years old, and a territory may include up to 14 females.
The source saysMales are polygamous, establishing breeding territories that may include up to 14 females. ... they begin holding territories at around 9 to 12 years old.
The page saysThey eat a variety of prey, such as squid, anchovies, mackerel, rockfish and sardines
The source saysThey eat a variety of prey—such as squid, anchovies, mackerel, rockfish, and sardines
The page saysa sea lion holds its flippers above the water, motionless, for a long time, to rest and regulate its body temperature
The source saysA rafting sea lion holds its flippers above the water for a long time, motionless, to rest and regulate its body temperature.
The page saysOne common habit is "rafting"
The source saysOne common behavior—called “rafting”—can make a sea lion look like it’s caught in a net.
The page saysThe species ranges from southeast Alaska to the Pacific coast of central Mexico.
The source saysCalifornia sea lions range from southeast Alaska to the Pacific coast of central Mexico.
The page saysThe main breeding range runs from the Channel Islands in southern California to central Mexico
The source saysTheir primary breeding range is from the Channel Islands in southern California to central Mexico.
The page saysin normal years males migrate in winter to feeding areas off California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and southeast Alaska
The source saysIn normal years, male California sea lions migrate during the winter to feeding areas off California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Canada, and southeast Alaska
The page saysShe listens, then sniffs. Mother and pup use calls that belong to the pair alone, and each also has a scent that identifies it. A mother homes in on her own pup's call among hundreds of others, and a sniff is her final check.
The source saysFemales and pups communicate using vocalizations that are unique to the female and pup. Each pup and female has a unique scent that also identifies them. A female can locate her pup among hundreds of others by her pup’s vocalization. When she finds her pup, she smells it as a final check.
The page saysIt can look like an animal caught in a net.
The source saysOne common behavior—called “rafting”—can make a sea lion look like it’s caught in a net.
The page saysShe can find her pup among hundreds of others by its call, then gives it a sniff as a final check.
The source saysA female can locate her pup among hundreds of others by her pup’s vocalization. When she finds her pup, she smells it as a final check.
The page saysdangerLevel: Medium
The source saysObserve all seals and sea lions from a safe distance of at least 50 yards and limit your time spent observing to 30 minutes or less.Note: task #1114: Medium: a 272 kg animal NOAA says to keep 50 yards from; no cached source records serious injury to a person
The page saysdangerLevel: Medium
The source saysduring the breeding season the males aggressively defend their territories

Source
02

Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute

California Sea Lion. Smithsonian's National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute.

The page saysunlike true seals, they have visible ear flaps
The source saysTheir visible ear flaps distinguish them from true seals.
The page saysthe National Zoo calls them one of the noisiest pinniped species
The source saysCalifornia sea lions are one of the noisiest pinniped species.
The page saysAdult males average about 600 pounds (272 kilograms) and 8 feet (2.4 meters) long
The source saysAdult males are about 8 feet (2.4 meters) long from nose to tail and weigh an average of 600 pounds (272 kilograms).
The page saysbefore the breeding season a male's weight often increases, to as much as 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms)
The source saysIn preparation for the breeding season, their weight often increases up to 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms).
The page saysFemales average 220 pounds (100 kilograms) and about 6 feet (1.8 meters).
The source saysare about 6 feet (1.8 meters) long and weigh an average of 220 pounds (100 kilograms).Note: body
The page saysPups weigh about 18 pounds (8 kilograms) at birth.
The source saysweigh about 18 pounds (8 kilograms) at birth
The page saysAt about 5 years old, males develop a noticeable crest along the top of the skull.
The source saysAt about 5 years old, males develop a noticeable crest that runs lengthwise along the top of their skull creating a high, domed forehead.
The page saysit gives the head a high, domed forehead
The source sayscreating a high, domed forehead
The page saysBulls patrol it, barking, and fight if they must.
The source saysBulls patrol their territories, barking incessantly to advertise their presence ... If necessary, bulls fight to defend their territories.
The page saysIn the wild a sea lion lives 15 to 20 years, and about 25 to 30 in human care.
The source saysCalifornia sea lions live 15 to 20 years in the wild and average 25 to 30 years in human care.
The page saysIn the water their torpedo-shaped bodies can reach 25 to 30 mph (40 to 48 kph), twisting through tight turns as they chase fish.
The source saysIn the water, their torpedo-shaped bodies can reach speeds of 25 to 30 mph! ... The flexibility of their bodies allows them to make tight, twisting turns as they play or pursue fish, and they can quickly reach speeds of 25-30 mph (40-48 kph)
The page saysmostly feeding toward the top of the water column, though they can dive as deep as 1,000 feet if necessary.
The source saysThey typically feed toward the top of the water column but can dive as deep as 1,000 feet if necessary.
The page saysMales are the heavyweights: a National Zoo profile puts a grown male at an average of 600 pounds (272 kilograms), measuring about 8 feet (2.4 meters) from nose to tail. Adult females are much smaller and slimmer, at around 220 pounds (100 kilograms) on average and roughly 6 feet (1.8 meters) long.
The source saysAdult males are about 8 feet (2.4 meters) long from nose to tail and weigh an average of 600 pounds (272 kilograms). ... Adult females are significantly smaller and slimmer than males. They are about 6 feet (1.8 meters) long and weigh an average of 220 pounds (100 kilograms).
The page saysSpeeds of 25 to 30 mph (40 to 48 kph) come quickly to them in the water.
The source saysthey can quickly reach speeds of 25-30 mph (40-48 kph)
The page saysThey usually feed high in the water column, but a sea lion can go down as far as 1,000 feet when it has to.
The source saysThey typically feed toward the top of the water column but can dive as deep as 1,000 feet if necessary.
The page saysThe sexes differ a lot in size.
The source saysAdult females are significantly smaller and slimmer than males.
The page saysweightKg: 272
The source saysweigh an average of 600 pounds (272 kilograms)Note: task #1114: typical adult male; females average 100 kg. Heavy either way. Not in a curated matchup

Source
03

The Marine Mammal Center

California Sea Lion. The Marine Mammal Center.

The page saysThat bony ridge is called a sagittal crest
The source saysmales develop a bony bump on top of their skull known as a sagittal crest

Source
04

Cook et al. 2013

Cook et al. (2013). A California sea lion (Zalophus californianus) can keep the beat: Motor entrainment to rhythmic auditory stimuli in a non vocal mimic. Journal of Comparative Psychology.

The page saysOne sea lion learned to bob its head in time with a rhythm, even complex music
The source saysa California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), can learn to entrain head bobbing to an auditory rhythm ... entrainment to complex, musical stimuliNote: stats.superpower
The page saysBefore a 2013 study, only vocal mimics, including humans, cockatoos and budgerigars, had been shown to keep a beat.
The source saysPrior to the current study, only vocal mimics, including humans, cockatoos, and budgerigars, have been shown to be capable of motoric entrainment.Note: 2013 is the reference year
The page saysThen a California sea lion learned to bob its head in time with an auditory rhythm.
The source saysa California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), can learn to entrain head bobbing to an auditory rhythm
The page saysIt carried that skill over to a range of novel tempos and to complex, musical stimuli.
The source saysperformance transfer to a range of novel tempos; and entrainment to complex, musical stimuli
The page saysOne did. In a 2013 study a California sea lion learned to nod in time to a beat, kept it up at speeds it had not been trained on, and moved in time to music. The authors concluded that keeping a beat may be more widespread in the animal kingdom than previously hypothesized.
The source sayscan learn to entrain head bobbing to an auditory rhythm meeting three criteria ... performance transfer to a range of novel tempos; and entrainment to complex, musical stimuli. ... may be more widespread in the animal kingdom than previously hypothesized.Note: 2013 is the reference year; nod = head bobbing; speeds = tempos
The page saysIn a 2013 study a sea lion learned to bob its head in time with a beat, then kept time at tempos it had never heard and to complex music.
The source saysa California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), can learn to entrain head bobbing to an auditory rhythm ... entrainment to complex, musical stimuliNote: vibe.reason; same source as the body claim

Source
05

Hernández-Camacho, González & Hernández 2026

Hernández-Camacho, González & Hernández (2026). Zalophus californianus. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2026: e.T41666A294651011.

The page saysLeast Concern
The source saysLeast ConcernNote: IUCN status
The page saysThe Red List rates the species Least Concern.
The source saysLeast Concern

How the table was made: a writer drafted the profile from these sources and logged each claim with its quote, a reviewer with nothing but this table checked every sentence said no more than its quote, and a script confirmed each quote appears word for word in the source. The method is in the site'sAbout page.