California sea lions are playful animals that live along the coast of the Pacific Ocean! You might have seen them at an aquarium or a zoo doing tricks and catching fish. They are mammals, just like you, which means they breathe air and feed milk to their babies. California sea lions are known for being very smart and very loud – they bark just like dogs!
California sea lions have smooth, sleek bodies that are dark brown when they are wet. Males are much bigger than females and can weigh as much as 800 pounds – that is heavier than a grand piano! Females are smaller, weighing around 200 pounds. Sea lions have long whiskers on their face that help them feel things in the water. They also have strong flippers that they use to walk on land and swim very fast in the ocean.
California sea lions live along the west coast of North America, from British Columbia in Canada all the way down to Mexico. They love to rest on sandy beaches, rocky shores, and even boat docks and piers! Big groups of sea lions that hang out together on land are called colonies. They spend a lot of their time in the cool waters of the Pacific Ocean, diving deep to find food.
California sea lions eat lots of different kinds of fish and sea creatures. Their favorite foods include squid, anchovies, sardines, and herring. They are amazing swimmers and can dive down almost 900 feet to catch their food! They can hold their breath for about ten minutes while they hunt underwater. Sea lions swallow their fish whole – they do not chew!
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