Best North Pacific
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The California sea lion is a pinniped belonging to the otariid family. Found along the western coast of North America, it’s notable for its intelligence and relatively docile temperament. These seals are frequently observed in marine environments and utilized within zoos and aquariums where their tr...
The giant Pacific octopus, Enteroctopus dofleini, is a large octopus native to the North Pacific, occurring from coastal East Asia across the Aleutian region to western North America. It inhabits rocky reefs, caves, and other den sites and feeds on crabs, mollusks, fish, and other marine animals. La...
The northern elephant seal is a massive true seal inhabiting the north Pacific Ocean. It’s remarkable for its dramatic population recovery following severe hunting pressure during the 19th century. These seals are deep divers and primarily found in coastal waters near Alaska, California, and Baja Ca...
Graneledone boreopacifica is a deep-sea octopus found in the northeastern Pacific Ocean, including waters off California. A female observed at roughly 1,400 meters in Monterey Canyon guarded the same clutch of eggs for about 53 months, the longest directly documented brooding period for any animal....
The Pacific Walrus is a distinct subspecies of walrus inhabiting the North Pacific’s Arctic waters. It's recognized by its substantial size and unique reliance on sea ice for resting and foraging. These animals are primarily used for accessing shellfish beds beneath the ice. The species is vital to...
Mesocentrotus nudus is a regular sea-urchin belonging to the Strongylocentrotidae family. It inhabits kelp forests of the North Pacific, specifically around Japan. This species is notable for its prevalence and role in the ecosystem. Scientists study it to understand urchin populations and their imp...
The Steller sea lion is a large, near-threatened marine mammal belonging to the otariid family. It inhabits the North Pacific and is the largest species of eared seal. Adult males can reach considerable size, contributing to substantial coastal rookeries where they breed and rest. Scientists and res...
Strongylocentrotus intermedius, commonly known as the red sea urchin, is an extant species of sea urchin inhabiting the North Pacific Ocean. It’s notable for producing high-value roe, a delicacy extensively harvested in Japan. This urchin is particularly relevant to seafood industries and those inte...
The blackeyed squid (Gonatus onyx) is a species of armhook squid found in the North Pacific Ocean, typically inhabiting deep mesopelagic and bathypelagic zones. This cephalopod is anatomically recognized by its dark eyes and the presence of hooks on its arms. Female G. onyx are noted for their prolo...
The Pacific white-sided dolphin, *Lagenorhynchus obliquidens*, is a small to medium-sized oceanic dolphin found in the North Pacific Ocean. It’s notable for its distinctive pale grey coloration and frequent acrobatic displays. These dolphins are highly social animals often observed in large groups....
The salmon shark is a North Pacific lamnid, notable for preying on Pacific salmon and maintaining elevated body temperature in cold subarctic waters.
Enaliarctos mealsi was a seal fossil discovered in Miocene North Pacific waters. This early pinniped represents one of the first known examples of the phocidae family, possessing characteristics resembling otters alongside developing marine adaptations. The specimen is significant for researchers st...
Onykia robusta, commonly known as the robust clubhook squid, is a large deep-sea squid species found in the North Pacific Ocean. It belongs to the family Onychoteuthidae and can reach mantle lengths exceeding one meter. The species is biologically distinguished by the presence of two rows of robust,...
The northern fur seal inhabits coastal waters of the North Pacific. This species is notable for its thick underfur providing insulation in cold environments and its reliance on oceanic foraging. Primarily found in Russia and Alaska, it’s a vulnerable population facing challenges due to climate chang...
Postelsia palmaeformis, commonly known as the sea palm, is a brown alga endemic to the wave-swept rocky shores of the northeastern Pacific coast of North America. It is the sole species in its genus and features a distinctive morphology that closely resembles a miniature palm tree. This intertidal k...
The northern right whale dolphin (Lissodelphis borealis) is a small, slender cetacean in the oceanic dolphin family, Delphinidae. It inhabits temperate and cold waters of the North Pacific and is distinguished by its smooth back without a dorsal fin, a narrow body, and contrasting black-and-white co...
The western North Pacific gray whale is a highly endangered cetacean population primarily known for its summer and autumn feeding grounds off the northeastern coast of Sakhalin Island, Russia. Unlike the larger eastern Pacific gray whale population, this group undertakes complex, poorly understood m...
Pontolis magnus is an extinct species of prehistoric walrus known for its large size. This marine mammal lived during the Late Miocene epoch, inhabiting the coastal waters of the North Pacific region. Paleontologists originally described the species from fossilized remains discovered in Oregon. It p...
The eastern Pacific harbor seal (Phoca vitulina richardii) is a coastal marine mammal found along the Pacific coast of North America, ranging from Alaska down to Baja California. As a true seal of the family Phocidae, it lacks external ear flaps and moves on land by undulating on its belly. The subs...
The Guadalupe fur seal is a species of eared seal found primarily in the waters off the Pacific coast of Mexico and southern California. The species breeds almost exclusively on Isla Guadalupe, a volcanic island located off the western coast of Baja California. It was heavily hunted for its luxuriou...
The North Pacific right whale is a severely depleted species of baleen whale inhabiting the cold waters of the North Pacific and Bering Sea. Historically driven to near extinction by extensive commercial whaling operations, it remains one of the rarest large whale populations in the world. These wha...
Enaliarctos emlongi is an extinct species of pinniped known from Miocene deposits along the Oregon coast. It belongs to Enaliarctidae, a family considered close to the ancestry of modern seals, sea lions, and walruses. Unlike later pinnipeds, it retained well-developed hind limbs capable of supporti...
Hess Tablemount is a flat-topped submarine volcano in the Pacific Ocean, named after geologist Harry Hammond Hess, who first defined and classified guyots in 1946.
Strongylocentrotus polyacanthus is a regular sea urchin in the family Strongylocentrotidae, commonly known as the many-spined sea urchin. It inhabits cold waters of the North Pacific, including areas around the Aleutian Islands and Alaska, and occurs on rocky seabeds where it grazes on algae and oth...
The Pacific white-sided dolphin is a marine mammal native to the temperate and cold coastal waters of the North Pacific Ocean. It is visually identified by its distinct black, white, and gray coloration, which features a dark dorsal surface, a pale belly, and prominent light gray stripes along its s...
Iceberg is a mature male killer whale renowned for his entirely white coloration, a rare trait among wild orcas. He was first photographed and documented in 2010 by researchers near the Commander Islands off the eastern coast of Russia. Scientists believe his striking appearance is the result of a g...
Imagotaria downsi is an extinct species of marine mammal belonging to the family Odobenidae, which includes modern walruses. It lived during the late Miocene epoch along the coast of what is now California. Unlike its modern relatives, Imagotaria lacked the characteristic elongated tusks and had a s...
The Aleutian Skate (Bathyraja aleutica) is a large North Pacific skate first described in 1898 by Gilbert, ranging from the Bering Sea to the coast of California.
Pelagophycus porra, commonly known as elk kelp, is a large brown macroalga native to the deep marine waters of the Pacific coast of North America, specifically around California's Channel Islands. The species was taxonomically described by William Albert Setchell and Nathaniel Lyon Gardner in 1925....
Berryteuthis magister, the magistrate armhook squid, is a large gonatid squid native to the North Pacific Ocean, particularly abundant in subarctic waters off Japan, Russia, and North America. Adults reach mantle lengths exceeding 40 cm, making it one of the larger squid species in the region. It in...
