Habitat: Pelagic
The brown pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis, pictured here in the outer harbor), was formerly listed as federally endangered in the 1970s but has since recovered, although it is still protected under California state law. Pelicans use the harbor for roosting and foraging and can be seen in the harbor diving from high in the air, plunging into the water to feed on fish such as anchovies and sardines.

Habitat: Seafloor and Riprap
The colorful sea slug Navanax (Navanax inermis, pictured here in the inner harbor), is common throughout the harbor on the seafloor, riprap, and pilings. These predatory sea slugs are typically a few inches in length and prey on other snails, bryozoans, and even small fish. They rely on their chemoreception, or ‘smell’, to track the slime trails of their prey as they do not have any organs for vision.

Habitat: Seafloor
The California halibut (Paralichthys californicus) is a commercially valuable species commonly found in the harbor. These fish partially bury themselves to blend into the seafloor in order to ambush prey such as shrimps, crabs, anchovies and other fishes. They use shallow bays, especially where eelgrass is present, as nursery habitat before moving into offshore habitats as they become adults.

Habitat: Riprap, Pilings and Seafloor/Eelgrass
The most common surfperch found along the California coast, shiner surf perch (Cymatogaster aggregata) can be found in the ocean and in bays and estuaries. They form loose schools around eelgrass beds, pilings, and riprap where they prey on small crustaceans and worms. Like all surfperches, shiners are viviparous, which means that they do not lay eggs but bear live young after the female carries the eggs inside her for around 12 months.

Habitat: Seafloor
California round stingrays (Urolophus halleri), pictured here in the outer harbor, are commonly found in shallow, sandy environments. They find food by digging into the seafloor, hunting for worms, crabs, snails, clams and small fishes. Primary predators include marine mammals and sharks, especially leopard sharks.

Habitat: Pelagic
Yellowtail (Seriola dorsalis) is a member of the jack family. They are usually found around rocky reefs and kelp forests as adults but areas such as the eelgrass beds near the entrance to the harbor as nursery habitat until large enough to move offshore. As adults, they feed on smaller bait fishes such as sardines and anchovies. A very popular target for sportfishing year-round, these fish can reach nearly 8 ft in length, although the average size is closer to 3 ft. The juvenile pictured here was captured in the inner harbor at Seaplane Lagoon.

Habitat: Pelagic
The gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) is an occasional visitor to the harbor, generally seen in the outer harbor and around Cabrillo Beach (cow and calf pictured here at the Cabrillo boat launch). This species of baleen whale makes yearly migrations between their feeding grounds near Alaska and their breeding grounds near Baja California, Mexico. In the spring, mothers and their calves can be observed heading northwards near shore, occasionally venturing inshore to feed on benthic crustaceans in shallow kelp and eelgrass beds. If observed from the surface on a calm day, gray whales create a distinctive heart-shaped blow from the two blowholes on top of their heads, as shown in this picture. Once considered endangered due to commercial whaling operations, gray whale populations have recovered, although they are still protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act.

Habitat: Pelagic
California sea lions (Zalophus californianus), pictured here in the outer harbor, are the most common and abundant marine mammal in the Port Complex. They can be seen swimming in open water or hauled out on rocks and manmade structures to warm up in between dives to hunt for fish, octopus, and squid. They are vocal, making calls that sound like barking dogs, and can be differentiated from harbor seals (Phoca vitulina), which also occur in the Cabrillo Beach area, by the presence of ears and large front flippers that they can use to prop themselves up with.

Habitat: Seafloor/Eelgrass
The California grunion (Leuresthes tenuis) are seasonally abundant in the harbor during the summer, following their late spring/early summer spawning. During spring and early summer full and new moons, grunion can be seen spawning on the beach by swimming as far up as possible and digging themselves partially into the sand to deposit eggs. Mature grunion may spawn up to six times per year, with thousands of eggs laid during each spawning event. Grunion runs can be observed at Cabrillo Beach, and those with a valid California fishing license can capture fish (using hands only!) during the open season in April/May. There is no bag limit, but fisherman may only take what they can use – it is unlawful to waste fish.

Habitat: Riprap and Pelagic
The California least tern (Sterna antillarum) is a federally endangered species that is a spring and summer visitor to Los Angeles Harbor, where it has nested since at least the 1970s. Most of the California least terns in the harbor are observed near the Pier 400 nesting site in the outer harbor (as pictured here). They forage for fishes such as anchovies and topsmelt in the nearby shallow-water habitats, including near Cabrillo Beach.

Habitat: Pelagic
The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus, pictured here on the breakwater near Cabrillo Beach), was formerly listed as federally endangered but has since recovered, although it is still protected under California state law. Peregrine falcons often nest in the Los Angeles Harbor area, including on bridges over the channels. They prey on small birds such as pigeons, songbirds, and waterfowl.