---
title: "Californische zeeleeuw"
description: "Zalophus californianus — Zoogdieren. The California sea lion is a coastal eared seal native to western North America."
canonical: https://animalchecklist.com/nl/animal/california-sea-lion
last_updated: 2026-09-20
---

# Californische zeeleeuw

> Zalophus californianus — Zoogdieren. The California sea lion is a coastal eared seal native to western North America.

- Scientific name: *Zalophus californianus*
- Category: `mammals` (Zoogdieren)
- Habitats: `sea` (Zee en kust)
- iNaturalist observations: 42933
- Wikidata: [Q379732](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q379732)
- iNaturalist taxon: [41740](https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/41740)

## Names

- en: California Sea Lion
- de: Kalifornischer Seelöwe
- es: Lobo marino californiano
- fr: Otarie de Californie
- nl: Californische zeeleeuw
- pl: Uszanka kalifornijska

## Countries with the most observations

US (33951), MX (2656), CA (1926), GT (4)

## Summary

The California sea lion is a coastal eared seal native to western North America. It is one of six species of sea lions. Its natural habitat ranges from southeast Alaska to central Mexico, including the Gulf of California. California sea lions are sexually dimorphic; males are larger than females, and have a thicker neck, and a protruding sagittal crest. They mainly haul out on sandy or rocky beaches, but they also frequent manmade environments such as marinas and wharves. California sea lions feed on a number of species of fish and squid, and are preyed on by orcas and great white sharks.

Text: Wikipedia (en), CC BY-SA 4.0 — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_sea_lion

## Photo

![Californische zeeleeuw](https://animalchecklist.com/img/animals/california-sea-lion/medium.jpg)

Photo: aiwendil · CC0 · inaturalist — https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/21227624

## Machine access

`GET https://animalchecklist.com/api/v1/animals/california-sea-lion?lang=nl` — see [openapi.json](https://animalchecklist.com/openapi.json).