California sea lion in a forest of giant kelp near the Channel Islands of California, USA

© Nature Picture Library/Alam

Who's hiding in the kelp?

This California sea lion is peeking out from a kelp forest near the Channel Islands of California. Although this species is named after the US state, its range stretches all along the western coast of North America, from Mexico up to Alaska. They tend to live in the shallow coastal areas, dining on squid, anchovies, mackerel and more. Highly social and intelligent, California sea lions often congregate in large, loud colonies on beaches and rocky shores to breed and have their pups.

Why roar about sea lions today? It's World Sea Lion Day, of course.