Sea Lions
by Vinutha[ Edit ] 2010-01-09 08:42:26
Sea Lions (Steller)
* Scientific Name: Eumetopias Jubatus
* Family: Otariidae
* Class: Marine Mammal
Facts about Sea Lions: GENERAL DESCRIPTION:
The Steller sea lion is the largest member of the Otariidae (eared seal) family. Steller's sea lions inhabit the cooler waters of the North Pacific. They are divided into two stocks - the western population (Gulf of Alaska, Bering Sea, Russia and Japan), and the eastern population (California, British Columbia and south east Alaska). This species gets its name from a German naturalist named George Wilhelm Steller who was the first to study the animal in 1742.
Male Steller's sea lions average 907 kg (2,000 lbs) in weight and 3 m (10 ft) in length; females average 272 kg (600 lbs) and 2.1 m (7 ft) in length.
When dry, Steller's have very thick, yellowish-brown fur but appear darker when wet. Mature males develop a heavy muscular neck with a mane of long, coarse hair.
Steller sea lion pups are black in color and weigh from 18 to 22 kg (40 - 48.5 lbs) and are about 1 m (3.3 ft) in length. Pups are dark brown to black until 4 to 6 months old when they molt to a lighter brown. By the end of their second year, pups have taken on the same pelage color as adults.
