STELLER SEA LION
Stellers are the largest of all sea lions and they have an appetite to match. These giant pinnipeds hunt fish, squid, octopus and, rarely, smaller seals. They are found off northern Pacific coasts from Japan to California.
Type:Mammal .Diet:Carnivore .Average life span in the wild:18 (males); 30 (females)
Size:7.75 to 9.25 ft (2.4 to 2.8 m) .Weight:1.2 tons (1.1 metric tons)
.Group name:Raft (in water); colony (on land) .Protection status:Endangered
Individual Steller sea lions may grow duller and lighter than most other sea lion species, and between individuals of the same type are also different, which can vary from pale yellow to color tawny and sometimes even reddish. Based on the genetic characteristics and the local migration patterns, the number of Steller sea lions around the globe is divided into two subspecies, one in the East and in the West, regardless of longitude 144 OW. In the summer, Steller sea lions tend to move southward bias, Hokkaido in winter and spring.Habitat Steller sea lions prefer the colder temperate to sub-arctic waters of the North Pacific Ocean.Haul outs and rookeries usually consist of beaches (gravel, rocky or sand), ledges, rocky reefs. .Steller sea lions exhibit sexual dimorphism, in which adult males are noticeably larger than females and further distinguished by a thick mane of coarse hair. Steller sea lions are colonial breeders.Adult males, also known as bulls, establish and defend territories on rookeries to mate with females.At birth, pups are about 3.3 ft (1 m) in length and weigh 35-50 lbs (16-22.5 kg).Female Steller sea lions use smell and distinct vocalizations to recognize and create strong social bonds with their newborn pups. .The Western DPS declined by 75% between 1976 and 1990, and decreased another 40% between 1991 and 2000 (the average annual decline during this period was 5.4%).The extent of this decline led NMFS to list the Steller's sea lion as threatened range-wide under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in April 1990, the decline continued in the Western portions of the range leading NMFS to divide the species into two distinct population segments (DPS), Western and Eastern, and list the Western DPS as endangered in 1997.Population surveys suggest that the Eastern US DPS is stable or increasing in the northern part of its range (Southeast Alaskan and British Columbia), while the remainder of the Eastern DPS and all the Western DPS is declining.Threats Threats to Steller sea lions include:boat/ ship strikes,contaminants/ pollutants,habitat degradation,illegal hunting/ shooting,offshore oil and gas exploration,interactions (direct and indirect) with fisheries,hunting for their meat, fur hides, oil, and various other products,sea lions can also be threatened by trash in the oceans. now, scientists are looking for solutions to protect stller sea lions from extinction.
The reason I chose this article because I love sea lions, I want to learn about their characteristics in order to protect them from extinction. I want to learn about their benefits (California sea lion). Steller sea lion is a cold-blooded animals but they are also very useful if trained, maybe generally dangerous for humans but not so that killed them.
Size:7.75 to 9.25 ft (2.4 to 2.8 m) .Weight:1.2 tons (1.1 metric tons)
.Group name:Raft (in water); colony (on land) .Protection status:Endangered
Individual Steller sea lions may grow duller and lighter than most other sea lion species, and between individuals of the same type are also different, which can vary from pale yellow to color tawny and sometimes even reddish. Based on the genetic characteristics and the local migration patterns, the number of Steller sea lions around the globe is divided into two subspecies, one in the East and in the West, regardless of longitude 144 OW. In the summer, Steller sea lions tend to move southward bias, Hokkaido in winter and spring.Habitat Steller sea lions prefer the colder temperate to sub-arctic waters of the North Pacific Ocean.Haul outs and rookeries usually consist of beaches (gravel, rocky or sand), ledges, rocky reefs. .Steller sea lions exhibit sexual dimorphism, in which adult males are noticeably larger than females and further distinguished by a thick mane of coarse hair. Steller sea lions are colonial breeders.Adult males, also known as bulls, establish and defend territories on rookeries to mate with females.At birth, pups are about 3.3 ft (1 m) in length and weigh 35-50 lbs (16-22.5 kg).Female Steller sea lions use smell and distinct vocalizations to recognize and create strong social bonds with their newborn pups. .The Western DPS declined by 75% between 1976 and 1990, and decreased another 40% between 1991 and 2000 (the average annual decline during this period was 5.4%).The extent of this decline led NMFS to list the Steller's sea lion as threatened range-wide under the Endangered Species Act (ESA) in April 1990, the decline continued in the Western portions of the range leading NMFS to divide the species into two distinct population segments (DPS), Western and Eastern, and list the Western DPS as endangered in 1997.Population surveys suggest that the Eastern US DPS is stable or increasing in the northern part of its range (Southeast Alaskan and British Columbia), while the remainder of the Eastern DPS and all the Western DPS is declining.Threats Threats to Steller sea lions include:boat/ ship strikes,contaminants/ pollutants,habitat degradation,illegal hunting/ shooting,offshore oil and gas exploration,interactions (direct and indirect) with fisheries,hunting for their meat, fur hides, oil, and various other products,sea lions can also be threatened by trash in the oceans. now, scientists are looking for solutions to protect stller sea lions from extinction.
The reason I chose this article because I love sea lions, I want to learn about their characteristics in order to protect them from extinction. I want to learn about their benefits (California sea lion). Steller sea lion is a cold-blooded animals but they are also very useful if trained, maybe generally dangerous for humans but not so that killed them.