South American Sea Lion
Otaria flavescens
Sighting evidence at La Catedral, Paracas
Sea lions use La Catedral's arch as a transit corridor and play zone, rocketing through the narrow passage in tight formation and sometimes circling back to investigate divers hovering at the arch entrance. The echo-locating clicks of hunting sea lions are audible through the water before they appear, giving divers a few seconds of anticipation before the encounter. Young males especially favour the arch as a social space, and multiple individuals may line up along the walls resting between hunting bouts.
Evidence at this site
No confirmed records on file at this site
South American Sea Lion is listed as a curated species here based on historical reports.