Steller Sea Lion
Eumetopias jubatus
Conservation Status
VulnerableMammalia · Carnivora · Otariidae
About
The Steller sea lion, also known as Steller's sea lion or the northern sea lion, is a large, near-threatened species of sea lion, predominantly found in the coastal marine habitats of the northeast Pacific Ocean and the Pacific Northwest regions of North America, from north-central California to Oregon, Washington and British Columbia to Alaska. Its range continues across the Northern Pacific and the Aleutian Islands, all the way to Kamchatka, Magadan Oblast, and the Sea of Okhotsk, south to Honshu's northern coastline. It is the sole member of the genus Eumetopias, and the largest of the so-called eared seals (Otariidae). Among pinnipeds, only the walrus and the two species of elephant seal are bigger. The species is named for the naturalist and explorer Georg Wilhelm Steller, who first described them in 1741. Steller sea lions have attracted considerable attention in recent decades, both from scientists and the general public, due to significant declines in their numbers over an extensive portion of their northern range, notably in Alaska.
Fun Fact
Steller sea lions are the largest of the eared seals, with bulls weighing up to 1,100 kg (2,400 lb), and they were named after Georg Wilhelm Steller, the naturalist who first described them in 1741.
Quick Facts
Habitat
Coastal North Pacific waters
Diet
Piscivore
Lifespan
15-20 years
Threats
- Ocean Pollution
- Ocean Acidification
- Shipping Traffic