Table Of Contents
- Description
- Behavior
- Biology
- Reproduction and Life History
- Morphology
- Trophic Strategy
- Ecology and Distribution
- Distribution
- Habitat
- Conservation
- Trends and Threats
- Evolution and Systematics
- Catalogue of Life Synonyms
- Relevance
- Uses
- Biodiversity Heritage Library
- References and More Information
- Literature References
- Specialist Projects
- Common Names
Description
Steller's sea lion is the largest of the eared seals (members of the family Otariidae), a group that includes fur seals and sea lions (3) (4). The impressive adult males are two and a half times the size of the females; they have large necks, and shoulders covered with a mane of long, coarse hair (2) (3). Both sexes are a light brown, whilst pups are originally black, moulting to the adult coat after three to four months (5). The common name of the species comes from the German naturalist who first described these seals in 1741, George Wilhelm Steller (4). Eared seals are able to control their hind flippers independently, allowing them to be particularly agile on land and, unlike the true seals (family Phocidae), they swim using their foreflippers (4).
Explore
|
|
Malacoctenus triangulatus Springer, 1959
Saddled blenny |
|
|
Camponotus sayi Emery, 1893 |
|
|
Cheilopogon suttoni (Whitley & Colefax, 1938)
Sutton's flyingfish |
|
|
Pogonophryne immaculata Eakin, 1981 |
|
|
Ciconia ciconia (Linnaeus, 1758)
White Stork |