Inhabiting the waters off of southern Alaska, the Northern Sea Otter's chief food items include (depcited on left) Northern Abalone (Haliotis kamtschatkana) and (depicted on right) Red Sea Urchin (Mesocentrotus franciscanus), the latter being a menace to the kelp beds that the sea otters inhabit. The Sea Otter has very dense fur (with several hairs growing from each follicle), a superb adaptation to the chilling climes of the northern Pacific.

An alpha male California Sealion (Zalophus californianus) loudly proclaims his stake on the beach sand, protecting his harem, and daring potential rivals to challenge him!!

This painting was inspired by the flooding (due to torrential rain a few weeks ago) @ the Central Park Zoo, causing one of their female sealions to temporarily escape her exhibit!!

Earlier this year, an Atlantic Walrus ( Odobenus rosmarus) was seen on the coast of Wales, after being sighted shortly before on the (east) coast of Ireland!