North American Mammal - Steller sea lion | Natural History Museum of Los Angeles

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Eumetopias jubatus (Schreber, 1776)

Steller sea lion diorama in the North American Mammal Hall

Scene:

Año Nuevo Island (near Santa Cruz), California

Background artist:

Charles Abel Corwin (1857-1938)

Also present:

Western Gull (Larus occidentalis),
California Gull (Larus californicus),
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis),
Glaucus-winged-Gull (Larus glaucescens).

Also known as the northern sea lion, this is the largest of the eared seals. Males may reach 11 feet in length and weigh up to 2425 lbs; females are much smaller and only weigh 770 lbs.

The main predators of Steller sea lions are the killer whale (orca) and great white shark.

Biological Information

Range:

North Pacific Rim from Japan to southern California

Habitat:

Isolated offshore rocks and islands

Status:

Threatened east of 144°W; endangered west of 144° W

Diet:

Fish, squid, octopus, shellfish

Further information about this species may be found on the Animal Diversity Web page for Steller sea lion.