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A California sea lion skull (Zalophus californianus) from the Academy's ornithology and mammalogy collection.

Advanced Marine Mammal Identification Course

Learn more about the natural history and biology of marine mammal species through interactive virtual trainings.

Welcome to the Advanced Marine Mammal Identification Course. On this page, you will find training modules on otariids, phocids, mustelids and cetaceans.

In each module, we will discuss the natural history, biology, and unique features of each species, which should help anyone identify marine mammals on the beach. Here are a few quick tips to help you navigate the slide presentations:

Click here for a page with downloadable resources, including cheat sheets and reporting information.

Introduction (3 minutes)

A general overview of the course. Meet the presenters, learn about legal issues surrounding marine mammals, and download all identification cheat sheets. 

Photo courtesy of Bill Keener

Launch module

Course modules