
California Sea Lion - Zalophus californianus
This playful California Sea Lion - Zalophus californianus, showed up during our Pelagic Expedition trip, off Baja, Mexico, in the middle of the ocean, easily more than 10 km off the coast. It was very playful, swimming around me and blowing bubbles.

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.