Steller's Sea Cow
Hydrodamalis gigas
Conservation Status
ExtinctMammalia · Sirenia · Dugongidae
About
Steller's sea cow is an extinct sirenian described by Georg Wilhelm Steller in 1741. At that time, it was found only around the Commander Islands in the Bering Sea between Alaska and Russia; its range extended across the North Pacific during the Pleistocene epoch, and likely contracted to such an extreme degree due to the glacial cycle. It is possible that indigenous populations interacted with the animal before Europeans. Steller first encountered it on Vitus Bering's Great Northern Expedition when the crew became shipwrecked on Bering Island. Much of what is known about its behavior comes from Steller's observations on the island, documented in his posthumous publication On the Beasts of the Sea. Within 27 years of its discovery by Europeans, the slow-moving and easily caught mammal was hunted into extinction for its meat, fat, and hide.
Fun Fact
short tons) and lengths up to 9 m (30 ft).
Quick Facts
Habitat
Restricted to the shallow seas around the Commander Islands, which include Bering and Copper Islands.
Diet
Herbivore
Lifespan
To be updated
Threats
- Habitat Destruction
- Overexploitation