California sea lion
The California sea lion was described by René Primevère Lesson, a French naturalist, in 1828. It is grouped with other sea lions and fur seals in the family Otariidae. Otariids, also known as eared seals, differ from true seals in having external ear flaps, and proportionately larger foreflippers and pectoral muscles. Along with the Galapagos sea lion and the extinct Japanese sea lion, the California sea lion belongs to the genus "Zalophus", which derives from the Greek words "za", meaning "intensive," and "lophus," meaning "crest." This refers to the protruding sagittal crest of the males, which distinguishes members of the genus.