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Description: CALIFORNIA SEA LION Zalophus californianus Sea lions and their relatives, seals and walruses, belong to a scientific order of marine mammals called Pinnipeds. Seals and sea lions are related but belong to separate scientific families and differ in a few ways. Sea lions have an external ear flap; a seal' external ear is a pinhole opening. Sea lions have much larger fore flippers than seals. To propel themselves through the water, sea lions move their fore flippers in an up and down flying like motion; seals move their hind flippers in a side to side fish like motion. To move about on land, sea lions can walk on all four flippers; seals scoot around similar to an inchworm. There are 5 species in the sea lion family. The following information applies to the California sea lion. California sea lions inhabit the temperate coastline and islands of the western Americas from British Columbia to Ecuador. They spend time at sea and come ashore frequently to bask in the sun and sleep. They are agile and maneuver well on land and in water. They can live about 25 years and are active predators who feed on squid, octopus, and fish. Males usually have a darker coat of fur than females and weigh up to 900 pounds, 3 times the weight of females. Breeding season is between May and August. Pups are born after a 12-month gestation, are 13 pounds at birth, and nurse up to a year. Sea lions communicate with one another through vocalizations and postural displays. They are tactile and seek out contact with other sea lions. They usually stay submerged 3 minutes or less but can hold their breath up to 15 minutes. They have 34 to 38 teeth that are designed for grasping and tearing food, not chewing. They have 25 whiskers to explore objects on land and water. Their fore flippers have all of the bones of a land animal's forelimbs, but are modified for swimming at speeds of up to 23 miles per hour. The hind limbs are used for steering and can be rotated underneath their body enabling them to walk on all fours. Three nails on the hind flippers are used in grooming. A small, flattened tail is located between the hind flippers. California sea lions see well on land and in water and their large eyes are very light sensitive. Hearing is one of their most important senses. They have a sense of smell and a poor sense of taste.