Editing California sea lion (section)

==Appearance, physiology, and movement==
[[File:Zalophus californianus 01.JPG|thumb|left|California sea lion skeleton]]

Being sexually dimorphic, California sea lions differ in size, shape, and coloration between the sexes. Males can grow up to {{convert|2.5|-|2.7|m|ft|abbr=on}} long and weigh around {{convert|350|kg|lb|abbr=on}}, while females are typically around {{convert|2.1|m|ft|abbr=on}} and weigh around {{convert|100|kg|lb|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Perrin/> The heaviest recorded male weighed {{Cvt|660|kg|lb}}.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Stapp |first1=Darby C. |title=Journal of Northwest Anthropology: Volume 49 Number 2 |date=1 September 2015 |publisher=Northwest Anthropology |isbn=978-1-5174-9639-5 |pages=193 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tJlWDwAAQBAJ |language=en}}</ref> Females and juveniles have a tawny brown [[Coat (animal)|pelage]],<ref name=Perrin/> although they may be temporarily light gray or silver after [[Moulting|molting]].<ref name=Audubon/> The pelage of adult males can be anywhere from light brown to black, but is typically dark brown.<ref name=Perrin/> The face of adult males may also be light tan in some areas. Pups have a black or dark brown pelage at birth.<ref name=Audubon/> Although the species has a slender build, adult males have robust necks, chests, and shoulders.<ref name=Audubon>{{cite book |last1=Reeves |first1=Randall R. |last2=Stewart |first2=Brent S. |last3=Clapham |first3=Phillip J. |last4=Powell |first4=James A. |year=2002 |title=National Audubon Society Guide to Marine Mammals of the World |publisher=Alfred A. Knopf |pages=[https://archive.org/details/guidetomarinemam00folk/page/90 90–93] |isbn=978-0375411410 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/guidetomarinemam00folk/page/90 }}</ref> Adult males also have a protruding crest which gives them a "high, domed forehead";<ref name=eared/> it is tufted with white hairs.<ref name=Perrin/> They also have manes, which are less developed than those of adult male [[South American sea lion|South American]] and Steller sea lions.<ref name=eared>{{cite book |last1=Lavigne |first1=David M. |last2=Harwood |first2=John |year=2001 |contribution=Eared seal species |title=The Encyclopedia of Mammals |editor-first=MacDonald |editor-last=David |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |page=171 |edition=2nd |isbn=978-0760719695}}</ref> Both sexes have long, narrow muzzles.<ref name=Audubon/>

As an otariid, the California sea lion relies on its foreflippers to propel itself when swimming. This form of [[aquatic locomotion]], along with its streamlined body, effectively reduces [[Drag (physics)|drag]] underwater. Its foreflipper movement is not continuous; the animal glides in between each stroke.<ref name=Feldkamp>{{cite journal |last=Feldkamp |first=S.D. |year=1987 |title=Swimming in the California sea lion: morphometrics, drag and energetics |journal=[[The Journal of Experimental Biology]] |volume=131 |pages=117–135 |pmid=3694112 |url=http://jeb.biologists.org/content/131/1/117.full.pdf |issue=1|doi=10.1242/jeb.131.1.117|doi-access=free }}</ref> The flexibility of its spine allows the California sea lion to bend its neck backwards far enough to reach its hindflippers. This allows the animal to make dorsal turns and maintain a streamlined posture.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Fish |first1=Frank E. |last2=Hurley |first2=Jenifer |last3=Costa |first3=Daniel P. |year=2003 |title=Maneuverability by the sea lion ''Zalophus californianus'': turning performance of an unstable body design |journal=[[The Journal of Experimental Biology]] |volume=206 |pages=667–674 |doi=10.1242/jeb.00144 |url=http://jeb.biologists.org/content/206/4/667.full.pdf |pmid=12517984 |issue=Pt 4|s2cid=12066187|doi-access=free}}</ref> When moving on land, the California sea lion is able to turn its hindflippers forward and walk on all fours. It moves the foreflippers in a [[Transverse plane|transverse]], rather than a [[Sagittal plane|sagittal]], fashion. In addition, it relies on movements of its head and neck more than its hindflippers for terrestrial locomotion.<ref>{{cite journal |last=English |first=Arthur Wm. |year=1976 |title=Limb movements and locomotor function in the California sea lion (''Zalophus californianus'') |journal=[[Journal of Zoology]] |volume=178 |issue=3 |pages=341–364 |doi= 10.1111/j.1469-7998.1976.tb02274.x}}</ref> California sea lions may travel at speeds of around {{convert|10.8|km/h|mph|abbr=on}},<ref name=Lowry/> and can dive at depths of {{convert|274|m|ft|abbr=on}} and for up to 9.9 minutes, though most dives are typically {{convert|80|m|ft|abbr=on}} and last less than 3 minutes.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Feldkamp |first1=Steven D. |last2=DeLong |first2=Robert L. |last3=Antonelis |first3=George A. |year=1989 |title=Diving patterns of California sea lions, ''Zalophus californianus'' |journal=[[Canadian Journal of Zoology]] |volume=67 |issue=4 |pages=872–883 |doi=10.1139/z89-129|url=https://zenodo.org/record/1235911 }}</ref>

[[File:Lion de mer Amnéville 01.jpg|thumb|right|California sea lion swimming underwater]]
California sea lions have [[color vision]], though it is limited to the blue-green area of the [[Visible spectrum|color spectrum]]. This is likely an adaptation for living in marine coastal habitats.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Griebel |first1=U. |last2=Schmid |first2=A. |year=1992 |title=Color vision in the California sea lion (''Zalophus californianus'') |journal=[[Vision Research]] |volume=32 |issue=3 |pages=477–482 |pmid=1604834 |doi=10.1016/0042-6989(92)90239-F|s2cid=40123080 }}</ref> Sea lions have fairly acute underwater hearing, with a hearing range of 0.4–32 [[hertz|kHz]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Reichmuth |first1=Colleen |last2=Southall |first2=Brandon L. |year=2012 |title=Underwater hearing in California sea lions (Zalophus californianus): Expansion and interpretation of existing data |journal=Marine Mammal Science |volume=28 |issue=2 |pages=358–363 |doi=10.1111/j.1748-7692.2011.00473.x |bibcode=2012MMamS..28..358R |url=http://pinnipedlab.ucsc.edu/publications/pub_146_2011.pdf |access-date=2012-06-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513041331/http://pinnipedlab.ucsc.edu/publications/pub_146_2011.pdf |archive-date=2013-05-13 |url-status=dead }}</ref> California sea lions rely on their [[whiskers]] or vibrissae for touch and detection of vibrations underwater. Compared to the [[harbor seal]], the California sea lion's vibrissae are smoother and less specialized and thus perform less when following hydrodynamic trails, although they still perform well.<ref>{{cite journal|author=Gläser, N.|year=2011|title=Hydrodynamic trail following in a California sea lion (''Zalophus californianus'')|journal=Journal of Comparative Physiology A|volume=197|issue=2|pages=141–51|pmid=20959994|doi=10.1007/s00359-010-0594-5|s2cid=22267851|display-authors=etal}}</ref>