Galapagos Sea Lion

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If you’re going to fall in love with one animal during your time on the Galapagos Islands, there’s a good chance it will be the Galapagos sea lion. These playful, inquisitive and highly sociable creatures are found throughout the archipelago, lounging around on beaches (and sometimes on public benches) and swimming gracefully in the sea.

Until fairly recently, Galapagos sea lions were considered the same species as the Californian sea lion, until it was confirmed that they had in fact separated from their California ancestors some two million years ago. They are now considered a distinct species, Zalophus wollebaeki, which breeds in only two places: the Galapagos Islands and, in far smaller numbers, on Isla de la Plata just off the coast of Ecuador.

It’s easy to distinguish between adult male and female Galapagos sea lions simply because of their size. Adult males weigh about 550 pounds on average, but some grow to a mighty 900 pounds. Females, meanwhile, are much smaller, weighing on average around 200 pounds, with the largest reaching 250 pounds.

When they’re not lazing around on the beaches, Galapagos sea lions take to the water to hunt. And while they’re far from elegant on land, they are wonderfully agile in the ocean, their smooth and streamlined bodies cutting through the water with ease. Sardines are their main prey, and they’ll sometimes swim eight or nine miles from the coast over the course of a few days to hunt them down. This, however, is a risky business. This far out, the Galapagos sea lion is at risk from its main predators: sharks and whales.

Galapagos sea lions are known for their playfulness, but territorial bulls will sometimes display aggressive behavior, and have been known to chase away humans on both land and in the water. Females and pups, however, are some of the most playful and amiable creatures you’ll ever come across, and happily swim with snorkelers. And as they’re the most abundant marine mammal in the archipelago, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to interact with these fun and fascinating creatures.

Read more about the Galapagos Sea Lion at Galapagos Conservation Trust.

Galapagos Cruises Where You are Likely to See the Galapagos Sea Lion

Other Galapagos Wildlife

American Flamingo / Blue-Footed Booby / Flightless Cormorant / Frigatebirds: Great and Magnificent / Galapagos Fur Seal / Galapagos Giant Tortoise / Galapagos Hawk / Galapagos Penguin / Land Iguana / Marine Iguana / Nazca Booby / Red-Footed Booby / Santa Fe Land Iguana / Waved Albatross

Galapagos Travel Guide

Galapagos Tours & Cruises / Galapagos & Machu Picchu Tours / Galapagos Land-Based Tours / Galapagos FAQ / Galapagos Weather / Galapagos Accommodations / Top Galapagos Activities by Land or by Sea / Galapagos Wildlife Calendar / Galapagos Packing List / Galapagos Blog Posts / Galapagos Cruise Deals / Galapagos Islands Map

The Main Galapagos Islands and Visitor Sites

Baltra Island / Bartolomé Island / Chinese Hat Islet / Eden Islet / Española Island / Fernandina Island / Floreana Island / Genovesa Island / Isabela Island / Mosquera Islet / North Seymour Island / Rábida Island / San Cristóbal Island / Santa Cruz Island / Santa Fe Island / Santiago Island / South Plaza Island

Galapagos Cruise Ships

Galapagos Legend / Santa Cruz II / La Pinta / Isabela II / Coral I & II / Galapagos Sea Star Journey / Infinity / Natural Paradise / Horizon / Petrel / Treasure of Galapagos / Galapagos Seaman Journey / EcoGalaxy

Other Galapagos Tours

Ecuador Amazon Tours / Ecuador & Chile Tours / Ecuador & Peru Tours / Galapagos Adventure Tours / Galapagos & Amazon Tours / Galapagos Luxury Tours / Galapagos, Machu Picchu, & Easter Island Tours / Galapagos Wildlife Tours / Machu Picchu & Galapagos Tours / Peru & Ecuador Tours / Quito to Galapagos Tours

Galapagos Cruises by Duration

4-Day Galapagos Cruises / 5-Day Galapagos Cruises / 6-Day Galapagos Cruises / 7-Day Galapagos Cruises / 8-Day Galapagos Cruises

Ecuador Travel Guide

Ecuador Tours & Travel / Ecuador FAQ / Ecuador Weather / Ecuador Accommodations / Ecuador Blog Posts

Top Ecuador Travel Destinations

Baños / Cuenca / Guayaquil / Otavalo / Quito / The Ecuadorian Amazon / The Galapagos Islands

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