---
title: "What the sources say about the California Sea Lion | AnimalTracks.wiki"
description: "45 claims from the California Sea Lion profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it."
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---

# What the sources say about the California Sea Lion (*Zalophus californianus*)

> 45 claims from the California Sea Lion profile, each beside the words of the source that backs it. A "..." marks a cut in a quote and [brackets] an insertion.

Profile: [California Sea Lion](https://animaltracks.wiki/animals/california-sea-lion/)

## California Sea Lion. NOAA Fisheries.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/species/california-sea-lion

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Males bark like dogs, and a mother can find her pup among hundreds by its call. | California 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) |
| Coastal waters of the eastern North Pacific, from southeast Alaska to central Mexico | California 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) |
| Squid, anchovies, mackerel, rockfish and sardines | They eat a variety of prey—such as squid, anchovies, mackerel, rockfish, and sardines (note: stats.diet) |
| California sea lions are "eared seals" | California sea lions are “eared seals” native to the West Coast of North America. |
| they live along the West Coast of North America | California sea lions are “eared seals” native to the West Coast of North America. |
| Males bark like dogs to talk to other males and females | California sea lion males bark like dogs to communicate with other males and females. |
| A mother and her pup trade calls unique to the pair. | Females and pups communicate using vocalizations that are unique to the female and pup. |
| Males start holding breeding territories at around 9 to 12 years old, and a territory may include up to 14 females. | Males are polygamous, establishing breeding territories that may include up to 14 females. ... they begin holding territories at around 9 to 12 years old. |
| They eat a variety of prey, such as squid, anchovies, mackerel, rockfish and sardines | They eat a variety of prey—such as squid, anchovies, mackerel, rockfish, and sardines |
| a sea lion holds its flippers above the water, motionless, for a long time, to rest and regulate its body temperature | A rafting sea lion holds its flippers above the water for a long time, motionless, to rest and regulate its body temperature. |
| One common habit is "rafting" | One common behavior—called “rafting”—can make a sea lion look like it’s caught in a net. |
| The species ranges from southeast Alaska to the Pacific coast of central Mexico. | California sea lions range from southeast Alaska to the Pacific coast of central Mexico. |
| The main breeding range runs from the Channel Islands in southern California to central Mexico | Their primary breeding range is from the Channel Islands in southern California to central Mexico. |
| in normal years males migrate in winter to feeding areas off California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia and southeast Alaska | In normal years, male California sea lions migrate during the winter to feeding areas off California, Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, Canada, and southeast Alaska |
| She 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. | Females 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. |
| It can look like an animal caught in a net. | One common behavior—called “rafting”—can make a sea lion look like it’s caught in a net. |
| She can find her pup among hundreds of others by its call, then gives it a sniff as a final check. | 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. |
| dangerLevel: Medium | Observe 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) |
| dangerLevel: Medium | during the breeding season the males aggressively defend their territories |

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

https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/california-sea-lion

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| unlike true seals, they have visible ear flaps | Their visible ear flaps distinguish them from true seals. |
| the National Zoo calls them one of the noisiest pinniped species | California sea lions are one of the noisiest pinniped species. |
| Adult males average about 600 pounds (272 kilograms) and 8 feet (2.4 meters) long | Adult males are about 8 feet (2.4 meters) long from nose to tail and weigh an average of 600 pounds (272 kilograms). |
| before the breeding season a male's weight often increases, to as much as 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms) | In preparation for the breeding season, their weight often increases up to 1,000 pounds (454 kilograms). |
| Females average 220 pounds (100 kilograms) and about 6 feet (1.8 meters). | are about 6 feet (1.8 meters) long and weigh an average of 220 pounds (100 kilograms). (note: body) |
| Pups weigh about 18 pounds (8 kilograms) at birth. | weigh about 18 pounds (8 kilograms) at birth |
| At about 5 years old, males develop a noticeable crest along the top of the skull. | At about 5 years old, males develop a noticeable crest that runs lengthwise along the top of their skull creating a high, domed forehead. |
| it gives the head a high, domed forehead | creating a high, domed forehead |
| Bulls patrol it, barking, and fight if they must. | Bulls patrol their territories, barking incessantly to advertise their presence ... If necessary, bulls fight to defend their territories. |
| In the wild a sea lion lives 15 to 20 years, and about 25 to 30 in human care. | California sea lions live 15 to 20 years in the wild and average 25 to 30 years in human care. |
| In the water their torpedo-shaped bodies can reach 25 to 30 mph (40 to 48 kph), twisting through tight turns as they chase fish. | In 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) |
| mostly feeding toward the top of the water column, though they can dive as deep as 1,000 feet if necessary. | They typically feed toward the top of the water column but can dive as deep as 1,000 feet if necessary. |
| Males 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. | Adult 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). |
| Speeds of 25 to 30 mph (40 to 48 kph) come quickly to them in the water. | they can quickly reach speeds of 25-30 mph (40-48 kph) |
| They usually feed high in the water column, but a sea lion can go down as far as 1,000 feet when it has to. | They typically feed toward the top of the water column but can dive as deep as 1,000 feet if necessary. |
| The sexes differ a lot in size. | Adult females are significantly smaller and slimmer than males. |
| weightKg: 272 | weigh 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) |

## California Sea Lion. The Marine Mammal Center.

https://www.marinemammalcenter.org/animal-care/learn-about-marine-mammals/pinnipeds/california-sea-lion

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| That bony ridge is called a sagittal crest | males develop a bony bump on top of their skull known as a sagittal crest |

## 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.

https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032345

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| One sea lion learned to bob its head in time with a rhythm, even complex music | a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), can learn to entrain head bobbing to an auditory rhythm ... entrainment to complex, musical stimuli (note: stats.superpower) |
| Before a 2013 study, only vocal mimics, including humans, cockatoos and budgerigars, had been shown to keep a beat. | Prior 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) |
| Then a California sea lion learned to bob its head in time with an auditory rhythm. | a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), can learn to entrain head bobbing to an auditory rhythm |
| It carried that skill over to a range of novel tempos and to complex, musical stimuli. | performance transfer to a range of novel tempos; and entrainment to complex, musical stimuli |
| One 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. | can 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) |
| In 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. | a California sea lion (Zalophus californianus), can learn to entrain head bobbing to an auditory rhythm ... entrainment to complex, musical stimuli (note: vibe.reason; same source as the body claim) |

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

https://doi.org/10.2305/iucn.uk.2026-1.rlts.t41666a294651011.en

| The page says | The source says |
| :--- | :--- |
| Least Concern | Least Concern (note: IUCN status) |
| The Red List rates the species Least Concern. | Least Concern |