Genus Zalophus Sea Lions
Zalophus is a genus of the family Otariidae (sea lions and fur seals) of the order Carnivora.
The seals of the genus Zalophus present a notorious sexual dimorphism, since the adult males have a pronounced sagittal crest, and weigh, in the Californian species, between 300 and 380 kg with 240 cm long, and the females 80 to 120 kg with between 180 and 200 cm. As with all ear seals, the males are significantly larger and heavier than the females. The males are dark brown in color, the females are lighter. In contrast to the other ear seals, the males do not have a clearly defined mane. In the Galapagos species the males weigh about 250 kg with a length of 250 to 270 cm, while the females weigh from 60 to 100 kg with a length of between 150 and 170 cm.
They have a streamlined body, with a layer of fat under the skin, to provide warmth and buoyancy. The coat is brown. They have large eyes that help compensate for low light levels in the underwater environment, while their whiskers increase their sense of touch. The nostrils close automatically once they touch the water. Their long front fins rotate outward for better movement on land, and propel them forward in the water, where they stay as long as possible.
This gallery has images of California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) from many locations from Mexico all the way through Southwestern Canada and the West Coast of the USA. The page also has images of Zalophus wollebaeki, the Galapagos Sea Lions from the islands themselves.
California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus)
Red = Galapagos Sea Lion range
Galapagos Sea Lions (Zalophus wollebaeki)
