Steller Sea Lion

The Steller sea lion is the largest eared seal. Adult males develop a massive neck and shoulders covered with longer coarse hair, while females remain much slimmer. Both sexes are pale tan to reddish brown, with dark flippers. Mature males average around 2.8m and 566kg; females about 2.3m and 263kg (NOAA Fisheries species account). The streamlined body narrows toward the hind flippers.

The species forages over continental shelves and near coasts, taking fish and cephalopods including pollock, cod, herring, salmon and squid. Sea lions haul out on exposed rocks and islands; breeding adults gather at traditional rookeries, where large males defend territories and females give birth to single pups. Outside breeding colonies they may travel and feed in dispersed groups (NOAA Fisheries species account).