California sea lion
| Diet | Squid, salmon, rockfish and schooling fishes |
|---|---|
| Size | Males: up to 7 feet (2.5 m); average 770 pounds. Females: up to 6.5 feet (2 m); average 220 pounds |
| Type | Mammals |
| Range | Northern Pacific Ocean from British Columbia, Canada to Baja California, Mexico |
| Habitat | Coastal waters and estuaries |
About the California sea lion
The “lion” part of these marine mammals’ name is spot on. Sea lions are among the most vocal of all mammals, and the mountainous males can emit reverberating barks to defend their territories or court females.
Did you know?
You can tell sea lions and seals apart by their "ears" - sea lions have external ear flaps while seals don't.
Sea lions use their strong front flippers to propel them through the water, while their back flippers act as rudders.
Their sensitive whiskers help them detect the slight movements of fish swimming by, even in the dark.
IUCN Red List Conservation Status
Association of Zoos & Aquariums Species Survival Plan®
This species is part of a program to support healthy, genetically diverse animal populations.
Rescued sea lion Cruz is blind, but that doesn’t keep him from training like the other animals! Our experts have built a program based on sound, touch and, most important, trust.
A home for rescued sea lions
Two of the sea lions at Shedd are rescues, but each came to the aquarium in a different way. Cruz was a pup when he was found blinded in both eyes on the California coast, while Laguna was found stranded and starving on California beaches — not once, but twice! Culling can be the next step, but government wildlife agencies and the marine mammal community collaborated to find him a home at Shedd.
Meet the sea lions
On an Abbott Oceanarium visit, you might see California sea lions Laguna, Cruz and Charger zooming around Grainger Sea Lion Cove or piled up for a nap. Even when you can’t see them, you can hear these aquatic predators throughout the Pacific Northwest exhibit when they start vocalizing — and living up to their common name.
Cruz
Laguna
Charger