Zalophus Gill 1866

Zalophus Gill 1866, Proc. Essex Inst. Salem, 5: 7.

Type Species: Otaria Gilliespii Macbain" 1858

Species and subspecies: 3 species:

Species Zalophus californianus (Lesson 1828)

Species Zalophus japonicus Peters 1866

Species Zalophus wollebaeki Sivertsen 1953

Discussion: Included in Arctocephalus by Van Gelder (1977 b). Mohr (1952) reported successful matings between Arctocephalus pusillus and Z. californianus . Rice (1998), followed here, argued for the retention of japonicus, californianus, and wollenbaeki as distinct species. Itoo (1985) concluded that japonicus was distinct, and behavioral differences separate californianus and wollenbaeki (Eibl-Eibesfeldt, 1984). But see Scheffer (1958) who recognized these populations at the subspecies level.