California Sea lion
Zalophus californianus
Classification
Domain Eukarya- They contain all living organisms with at least one nucleus. Organism also can be multicellular or unicellular. Unlike plants they do not have a cell wall.
Kingdom Animalia - All animals in this kingdom are multicellular, and are heterotrophs. Most animals in this kingdom have an internal digestive system.
Phylum Chordata- All Chordata animals have bilateral symmetry which means they look the same on both sides. They also have a structure called a notochord
Sub Phylum Vertebrates- Vertebrates include all fishes, reptiles, amphibians, birds, and mammals. All animals in this Sub Phylum have an endoskeleton.
Class Mammalia- Usually bigger animals spend a longer life than smaller animals. All animals in this class have hair at some stage of their lives.
Order Carnivora- All carnivorous animals have different food habits even though all eat meat. All members have very string teeth to rip through food easier.
Family Otariide- The family of Otariide includes 14 species. The skulls of this family are similar to the bear.
Genus Zalophus- This genus include the California Sea lion only
Species- Zalophus californianus
Sea lions in a group
Sea lion range
California Sea lion
General Description
Length: Males are about 7 feet long. Females are 1 foot shorter.
Weight: Males can weigh 275 kgs to 390 kgs while females weigh from 91 kg 110kg .
Habitat : They live in the waters of California and northern Mexico. Sea lions can also be found in the Pacific coast.
Diet: Sea lions feed in small groups. They eat salmon, squid, rockfish, octopuses and other fish.
Color: Pups have a blackish brown coat when born but then replaced with a lighter shade of brown. This coat is shed after approximately 5 months and replaced with the adult skin. . Adult females can appear in a tanner shade.Male sea lions have a sagittal crest, which make it easier to distinguish between both genders.
Natural Range: Their range extends from British Columbia to Mexico. There is a miniature population in the Galapagos.
Predators: Their greatest predators are the White Shark and the Killer Whale.
Physical Description
Behavioral Description
References
Brookfield zoo. (n.d.). Retrieved 2014, from California Sea Lion website: http://www.czs.org/Brookfield-ZOO/Zoo-Animals/Pinniped-Point/California-Sea-Lion
Burton, M. (2002). Sea lion. In International wildlife encyclopedia (3rd ed., Vol. 16, pp. 2282-2284). New York, NY: Marshall Cavendish.(3rd ed., Vol. 16, pp. 2282-2284).
California Sea Lion. (n.d.). Retrieved February 25, 2011, from Cincinnati zoo website: http://cincinnatizoo.org/blog/animals/california-sea-lion/
California sea lion. (2015). Retrieved from Sea world Parks and Entertainment website: http://seaworld.org/animal-info/animal-bytes/mammals/california-sea-lion/
California sea lion Zalophus californianus. (n.d.). Retrieved from National Geographic website: http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/california-sea-lion/?source=A-to-Z
Mammal California sea lion. (n.d.). Retrieved from San Diego Zoo Kids website: http://kids.sandiegozoo.org/animals/mammals/california-sea-lion
Price, R. 2002. "Zalophus californianus" (On-line), Animal Diversity Web. Accessed March 11, 2015 at http://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Zalophus_californianus/
Zalophus californianus: California sea lion. (n.d.). Retrieved from EOL Encyclopedia For Life website: http://eol.org/pages/328615/overview