Steller Sea Lion

Eumetopias jubatus

Description:

The largest of the eared seals and the fourth largest pinniped. (only elephant seals and walrus are larger.) Large males can weigh in at well over a ton and over 3m long (10' +). Males are much larger with dark manes. Females average closer to 2.5m (8') and between 240-350kg (550-770 lbs). Steller's are lighter in colour with dark sandy coloured coats through tawnyand sometimes even reddish.

Habitat:

Found in the North Pacific from the Sea of Okhotsk in Russia to the Gulf of Alaska and range extending south to Japan in the east and California in the west. These animals were seen off the Kamchatka coast.

Notes:

These animals are of Western Stock and show a small haul out of females and young males. The Steller Sea Lion is classed as 'endangered' due to a huge decline in numbers over the last 3 decades. There does not seem to be an explanation for this. Ref: Wikipedia, National Geographic - Steller Sea Lion

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11 Comments

triggsturner 8 years ago

Thank you Sharon.

SharonLove 8 years ago

love this one

triggsturner 8 years ago

Thank you Antonio. Joshua, your comment made me chuckle. I have been lucky enough to travel quite widely but there are so many places and critters I still want to see and I only picked up a camera in earnest 3 years ago so lots of work to do. Like you and your birds - its an endless joy and we never stop learning :)

JoshuaGSmith 8 years ago

You have truly been everywhere!

AntónioGinjaGinja 8 years ago

Great series triggsturner,congrats on the well deserved SOTD and thanks for sharing

triggsturner 8 years ago

Wow, I wasnt expecting that! Honour to get an SOTD and thank you so much for all of you that have commented and liked this spotting. Luckily these were just young males and females, the older males are huge and I dont think we would have got anywhere near as close!!