The Steller Sea Lion is the largest member of the eared seal family, with bulls weighing up to 2,500 pounds and producing loud, lion-like roars from breeding rookeries. The western population in Alaska declined precipitously from the 1970s through 1990s—one of the most dramatic documented declines of any marine mammal—though causes are still debated. Its golden-brown coat and massive bulk distinguish it from the smaller California sea lion.
Habitat
North Pacific coastlines, rocky islands, and offshore reefs
Diet
Fish, squid, octopus, and occasionally other pinnipeds
How common
Uncommon
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