Eumetopias jubatus
Steller sea lion

Steller's Sea Lion is found on the North Pacific coasts. The countries included are Russia, Japan, Canada, and part of the United States. More specifically it is found from the sea of Japan at 43 degrees N, north to the Pacific rim at 66 degrees N, and then south down to the North American Pacific coast to San Miguel Island at 34 degrees N.

Colder waters are more preferable than warm waters.

This species is the largest of five species of seals belonging to the family Otariidae (eared seals). It is characterized by a yellowish buff color, and a coat of short coarse hair that lacks a distinct undercoat. Sea lions have longer flippers than the true or earless seals. They are capable of rotating their hind flippers forward in order to have full use of all four limbs on land.

Steller's Sea Lions show remarkable sexual dimorphism. Males are much larger than females. The length of the average male is 282 centimeters, while the length of the average female is only 228 centimeters. The weight of the average male is 566 kilograms, while the weight of the average female is only 263 kilograms. Males also have extremely thick muscular necks and a mane of coarse long hair.

Newborn pups are about 100 centimeters long, weigh 16-23 kilograms, and have a thick, dark brown pelage that molts to lighter after six months. After 2-3 years their color changes again, this time to the adult color.

Male Steller Sea Lions (bulls) are extremely aggressive and territorial. They are large animals and often fight for mates. They do this by throwing their huge bodies up against one another and biting. They come to the breeding ground in May, and this is when the fighting begins. The strongest bull is the male with the largest harem.

Steller's Sea Lions are not often found in captivity. This is due to their belligerent nature. They are thought to be dangerous to have in zoos, and untrainable for circuses.

They acquire their food by diving into the ocean. The deepest recorded dive by one of these huge beasts was 120-160 yards. This particular animal was found caught in a net, so this number could be slightly inaccurate.

Sea Lions are also known for their "sun bathing". They are most often viewed by boaters and tourists as they lay in the sunshine on the rocks.

Studies are now being done on the communication of Steller Sea Lions. They are believed to make certain clicking noises when hunting and swimming and can produce a low roaring sound similar to that of a lion.

Steller's Sea Lions are known to be true carnivores. They feed on both commercial and non-commercial fish, and also on cephalopods (octopus and squid). Commercially exploited walleye pollack is an important part of their diet. This selective diet is a major cause of the Sea Lions' diminishing population, due to competition with humans for this favorite.

Eats many commercial fish that humans exploit.

Profit from meat, hides, and blubber. Ecotourism benefits greatly from sea lions because humans think that they are "cute".

They are a primary source of food for inhabitants of the Aleutian Islands. Their skins can be used for boat coverings, clothing, and their whiskers for cleaning of Chinese opium pipes. Since the passage of the Marine Mammal Protection Act (1972), the use of these sea lions has declined.

These animals are a threatened species. The Steller sea lion was placed on the Endangered Species list in 1990. The Western Alaskan population was reclassified as Endangered in April 1997. This is due to a number of causes. Thousands were once killed each year in the nets of fishermen in Alaska. Changes in fishing techniques and gear in 1984 reduced the number killed. An unknown number are shot each year during commercial fishing because this species is seen as a pest to the industry. The Steller Sea Lion eats a variety of commercial fish. The intense commercial fishing of pollock, a major food source, has decreased the Alaskan population from 175,000 animals in 1962 to 40,000 in 1992. They are also caught in plastic trash, which usually leads to death. This species is also hunted on a small scale for subsistence and for trade.

The Steller Sea Lion is protected in the United States and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) is proposing to add the species to the "red" species list.