Steller Sea Lion

The Steller sea lion, the largest of the sea lions, is found in northern Pacific waters from Japan to California.National Geographic: Steller Sea Lion It can also be found in the Bering Sea, Okhotsk Sea and along the Kamchatka Peninsula.Alaska Department Of Fish & Game: Steller Sea Lion The Steller sea lion was listed as endangered in 1997. From 1960 to 2000, the population of Steller sea lions fell by 155,000 to 215,000, leaving only about 85,000 of them in the wild.Seal Conservation Society: Steller Sea Lion

A Steller sea lion has coarse, short, yellowish hair. As a pup, it has dark brown hair which gets lighter at 6 months of age. By the age of two or three, its color changes again to its final adult color.Animal Diversity Web: Steller Sea Lion

Males are about 25 percent longer than females and twice the weight.Animal Diversity Web: Steller Sea Lion

The Steller sea lion differs from hair seals such as the ringed seal, in that it has external ears and rear flippers that rotate, enabling it to appear to walk while on land.Alaska Department Of Fish & Game: Steller Sea Lion

The Steller sea lion tends to be quite aggressive and territorial. Males fight each other for mates by bumping and biting each other, with the strongest earning the largest harems.Animal Diversity Web: Steller Sea Lion Females give birth from may through July.Alaska Department Of Fish & Game: Steller Sea Lion They nurse their pups for about a year.National Geographic: Steller Sea Lion

• 50birds.com: Steller's Sea Lion, September 2009 Calendar

• JigZone.com: Steller Sea Lion Jigsaw Puzzle

• Alaska State Wildlife: Steller Sea Lion Coloring Sheet

• Quizmoz: Sea Lion Quiz

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