Steller Sea Cow Colouring

Steller's sea cow, Hydrodamalis gigas, was a gigantic marine herbivore from the cold North Pacific. By the time Europeans described it, the surviving population lived around the Commander Islands in the Bering Sea, now part of Russia. Naturalist Georg Wilhelm Steller observed the animal in 1741 after a shipwreck and recorded its appearance and behaviour. Adults reached around 9 or 10 metres and may have weighed several tonnes. Thick blubber and a rough bark-like skin helped them cope with cold water. They had small heads, split flexible upper lips for gathering kelp, short paddle-like forelimbs and a broad forked tail. Instead of ordinary teeth, adults used tough horny chewing plates. They remained in shallow coastal water and could not dive deeply. Their precise lifespan is unknown. Sailors and fur traders quickly hunted sea cows for meat, fat, skin and bones. Their slow movement, shore-hugging habits and small restricted population made them extremely easy targets. The last widely accepted animals were killed in 1768, only 27 years after Steller's description. None received a recorded personal name. Scientists have discussed whether earlier hunting and changes to kelp ecosystems had already reduced the range, but direct commercial killing clearly caused the final rapid extinction. The story became an early warning that even an enormous animal can disappear quickly when people take it faster than it can reproduce. On this page, colour the sea cow slate grey, brown-grey, olive-brown or deep charcoal, keeping the belly slightly lighter. Use dark and light greens for the kelp, blue or turquoise for water, and grey, tan and lavender for the rocky islands. The small seabird may be white and grey. Broad curved strokes work well across the huge body; long waving strokes can follow the kelp leaves. Notice the tiny head and flippers compared with the barrel-shaped body, and the forked tail at the rear. Leave a few white highlights along the back and waterline so the animal does not become one solid dark shape. The peaceful feeding pose should remain gentle and easy to colour.

◫ A4 size✎ Bold outlines♡ Ages 3–8

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