Species Identifier: California Sea Lion

California Sea Lion (otariid)
Zalophus californianus

• Habitat:
  offshore islands of California and Baja
• Diet:
  squid, abalone, octopus, anchovy, hake, herring, Pacific whiting, sardines, jack, mackerel, rockfish, salmon, and ratfish
• Diet at PMMC:
  herring, mackerel, squid, and smelt
• Males:
  6.5 to 8 feet long, 450 to 850 lbs.
• Females:
  5 to 6.5 feet long, 110 to 250 lbs.
• Dive:
  swim up to 25 mph, with short bursts of 30 mph and dive to 450 feet for 20 minutes
• Pupping Season:
  May-June, 12 to 13 lbs. at birth
• Population:
  estimated at 45,000 on the West Coast, 145,000 worldwide
• Predators:
  large sharks, killer whales, and humans

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