Bottlenose dolphin vs California sea lion
Bottlenose dolphin vs California sea lion
Bottlenose dolphin is larger on weight
Bottlenose dolphin is somewhat greater than California sea lion on weight — about 1.2×.
A bottlenose dolphin and a California sea lion can be compared on 4 measures. The figures below are typical adult or full-size values, with the larger of the two in bold.
Side by side
| Bottlenose dolphin | California sea lion | |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | 150–650 kg | 50–400 kg |
| Length | 2–4 m | 1.5–2.5 m |
| Top speed | 35 km/h | 40 km/h |
| Typical lifespan | 30–60 yr | 15–30 yr |
What the numbers say
- Bottlenose dolphin is somewhat greater than California sea lion on weight — about 1.2×.
- Bottlenose dolphin is somewhat greater than California sea lion on length — about 1.2×.
- California sea lion is somewhat greater than bottlenose dolphin on top speed — about 1.1×.
- Bottlenose dolphin is 2× California sea lion on typical lifespan.
Weight compared.
Bottlenose dolphin 150–650 kg
California sea lion 50–400 kg
Bottlenose dolphin
The dolphin most people picture, and the one most often kept in aquaria.
California sea lion
An eared seal that can walk on all fours on land; the barking animal at most zoos and piers.
This is a comparison of published measurements, nothing more. It describes how two things differ on measures that have been recorded; it does not predict how they would fare against each other in any situation.
Common questions
- Which is bigger, bottlenose dolphin or California sea lion?
- Bottlenose dolphin is somewhat greater than California sea lion on weight — about 1.2×. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.
- How do bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions compare on length?
- Bottlenose dolphin: 2–4 m. California sea lion: 1.5–2.5 m. Bottlenose dolphin is somewhat greater than California sea lion on length — about 1.2×.
- How do bottlenose dolphins and California sea lions compare on top speed?
- Bottlenose dolphin: 35 km/h. California sea lion: 40 km/h. California sea lion is somewhat greater than bottlenose dolphin on top speed — about 1.1×.
Related pages
Sources
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — NOAA (Public domain (US Government))