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Steller Sea Lion

© Fred J. Kane

Sea Lion Eumetopias jubatus

When Stellar Sea Lion pups that are dark brown reach adult size they are the biggest of all Eared Seals. The fur of both the male and female is cinnamon. The male Stellers develop dense and thick neck long rough hair. This makes the animal look as if it has a mane like the African Lion, hence the name, "Sea Lion." The average adult male Steller Sea Lion is about nine feet long while the female is about 7 ½ feet long. Weighing in at about one ton of whiskers, flippers, blubber and bone, Stellar Sea Lion are the largest and most northerly of all sea lions, Many of the sea lions spend their summer on the Island of Chiswell resting, battling, breeding and feeding themselves and their young. Females reach adulthood at from four to five years and the males at seven to nine years of age. After mating the gestation period lasts about one year. The average old age for the Steller Sea Lion is about 23 years. There is a very high mortality rate for the pups until they reach the age of adulthood.

Steller Sea Lions live in the Pacific Northwest near Alaska and Japan. Some people mistake the California Sea Lion for the Steller Sea Lion. During the breeding season, male Stellers stake out territories on rocky beaches. The sea lion breeds from the Sea of Japan, north to the Pacific Rim and then south the North American Pacific coast

The voice of a Stellers sounds like a roar where as the California Sea Lion's voice sounds like a bark.

Fish like Pollock, rockfish, sculpin, capelin and flatfish are on the sea lion's menu. Also the sea lions dine on squid, octopus, shrimp and crabs. Because of the change in fish habitat fish that have a higher nutritional value than Pollock are not as readily available because of change in the ecosystem.

Killer Whales (Orca) and Great White Sharks are two of the main predators upon Steller Sea Lions. Steller Sea Lions are on considered a threatened species as their population has decreased since 1980. An increase of parasites, disease, predators, stress from lack of food because of water temperature warming causing the food fish to go elsewhere and environmental pollution.

The listing of the Steller Sea Lion whose scientific name is, Eumetopias jubat) has been listed as a threatened species of Sea Lions creating new challenges for fisheries managers.

The copyright of the article Steller Sea Lion in Arctic Wildlife is owned by Fred J. Kane. Permission to republish Steller Sea Lion in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.