Steller's Sea Cow
Steller's Sea Cow Hydrodamalis gigas was a large, herbivorous marine mammal that lived in the North Pacific Ocean. It was the largest of the sirenians, a group that includes manatees and dugongs, and could reach lengths of up to 30 feet and weigh over 10 tons.
Steller's Sea Cow was a slow-moving, gentle animal that fed on kelp. It was first described by the naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller in 1741, and it was a common sight in the coastal waters of the Bering Sea. However, it was heavily hunted for its meat, fat, and hide, and its population was quickly decimated.
The last Steller's Sea Cow was killed in 1768, only 27 years after it was first discovered by Europeans. The Steller's Sea Cow is a tragic and powerful example of a species that was driven to extinction by human activity. Its story is a sobering reminder of the impact of overexploitation on wildlife and the importance of conservation.
Steller's Sea Cow
Classification
Mammalia > Sirenia > Dugongidae > Hydrodamalis > H. gigas
Native To
Conservation Status
Average Height
25 - 30 feet
(7.6 - 9.1 m)
Average Weight
17,000 - 22,000 lbs
(7,700 - 10,000 kg)
Average Life Span
50 - 90 years
Gestation Period
360 - 365 days
Did You Know?
The Steller's Sea Cow was a massive marine mammal, growing up to 30 feet long and weighing up to 10 tons, making it much larger than modern manatees and dugongs.
These gentle giants were herbivores and grazed on kelp and other seaweeds in shallow coastal waters.
Sadly, the Steller's Sea Cow was discovered in 1741 and hunted to extinction within just 27 years due to its docile nature, large size, and tendency to stay in shallow waters, making it an easy target for hunters.
They lived in the cold waters of the North Pacific, primarily around the Commander Islands and near the coast of Kamchatka.
Fossil evidence suggests they once had a much wider distribution across the North Pacific.
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