Editing Steller sea lion (section)

=== Communication ===
[[File:Steller sea lions in the Bukhta Russkaya, Kamchatka.webm|thumb|150px|upright=1.25|Steller sea lions congregate on Cape of Kekurny rocks in the Bukhta Russkaya of [[Kamchatka Krai|Kamchatka]].]]

Like most otariids, Steller sea lions are vocal in air. Mature male sea lions have a range of vocalizations as part of their territorial behaviors, including belches, growls, snorts, and hisses that serve as warnings to others. Both males and females also produce underwater noises similar to their above water sounds, described as clicks, barks, and belches.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Schusterman | first1 = R. J. | last2 = Balliet | first2 = R. F. | last3 = John | first3 = S. S. | year = 1970 | title = Vocal displays under water by the gray seal, the harbor seal,. and the stellar sea lion | journal = Psychonomic Science | volume = 18 | issue = 5| pages = 303–305 | doi = 10.3758/bf03331839 | doi-access = free }}</ref> The primary function of their vocalizations is for social behavior. Sonogram readings reported that Steller Sea Lions make discrete, low frequency pulses underwater that resemble the male "belching" territorial noise made in air. These underwater vocalizations have an average of 20–30 pulses per second.<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.3758/BF03331839.pdf|doi=10.3758/bf03331839|title=Vocal displays under water by the gray seal, the harbor seal,. And the stellar sea lion|journal=Psychonomic Science|volume=18|issue=5|pages=303–305|year=1970|last1=Schusterman|first1=Ronald J.|last2=Balliet|first2=Richard F.|last3=St. John|first3=Stanley|s2cid=130930524|doi-access=free}}</ref>

Vocalizations are critical to mother-pup pairs, as the mothers must find their pups in a crowded breeding area when they return from foraging. The mother and pup both use distinctive calls, like names, to help differentiate themselves among the crowd of other sea lions.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Campbell | first1 = G. S. | last2 = Gisiner | first2 = R. C. | last3 = Helweg | first3 = D. A. | last4 = Milette | first4 = L. L. | year = 2002 | title = Acoustic identification of female Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) | journal = The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America | volume = 111 | issue = 6| pages = 2920–2928 | doi = 10.1121/1.1474443 | pmid = 12083225 | bibcode = 2002ASAJ..111.2920C }}</ref> Their aerial vocalizations have been described as similar to the bleats of sheep, and bellows.

Because Steller sea lions are sexually dimorphic in size, their hearing differs in sensitivity, possibly due to differences in size of the hearing structures. Females have a higher sensitivity than males, perhaps to hear the higher frequency calls of their pups. The Steller sea lion's hearing range also suggests that they are capable of hearing the underwater calls of one of their main predators, the killer whale.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Kastelein | first1 = R. A. | last2 = van Schie | first2 = R. | last3 = Verboom | first3 = W. C. | last4 = de Haan | first4 = D. | year = 2005 | title = Underwater hearing sensitivity of a male and a female Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) | journal = The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America | volume = 118 | issue = 3| pages = 1820–1829 | doi = 10.1121/1.1992650 | pmid = 16240840 | bibcode = 2005ASAJ..118.1820K }}</ref>