Hydrodamalis gigas and a dugong
2026220262The Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) was discovered in 1741 by Bering's expedition. It was described by the ship's doctor Georg Steller. The animal was named after him because we only learned about the lifestyle of this sea cow from his records. Indeed, by 1768, the Hydrodamalis gigas had been eradicated by hungry sailors. In just 27 years! Millions of years of evolution were consumed in almost three decades. Today, the dugong, a relative of the Steller's sea cow, still exists. However, it is half the size and ten times lighter. But it is still alive...
More information about the Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) and more images with it you can find on the page Steller's Cow (Hydrodamalis gigas)
About the Size Comparison Project: In 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, Roman and Alexandra Uchytel created the Size Comparison Project to compare ancient animals with their modern relatives, which went viral on social media. More details about the Size Comparison Project, as well as links to media publications you can find here
The Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) was discovered in 1741 by Bering's expedition. It was described by the ship's doctor Georg Steller. The animal was named after him because we only learned about the lifestyle of this sea cow from his records. Indeed, by 1768, the Hydrodamalis gigas had been eradicated by hungry sailors. In just 27 years! Millions of years of evolution were consumed in almost three decades. Today, the dugong, a relative of the Steller's sea cow, still exists. However, it is half the size and ten times lighter. But it is still alive...
More information about the Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas) and more images with it you can find on the page Steller's Cow (Hydrodamalis gigas)
About the Size Comparison Project: In 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic, Roman and Alexandra Uchytel created the Size Comparison Project to compare ancient animals with their modern relatives, which went viral on social media. More details about the Size Comparison Project, as well as links to media publications you can find here
-346x277.jpg "Steller's Cow (Hydrodamalis gigas)")
