Stellers

Stellers refer to the plural of the surname Steller and, in historical and scientific contexts, to figures named Steller, most notably Georg Wilhelm Steller (1709–1746). Steller was a Baltic German naturalist who joined Vitus Bering's Russian expedition during the Great Northern Expedition and conducted field observations in Siberia and Alaska. His meticulous notes documented plants, animals, and indigenous peoples, and his work helped establish early knowledge of North Pacific ecosystems. He died on Bering Island in 1746 after a harsh winter expedition.

Several animal species bear the epithet Steller's in his honor. Examples include Steller's jay (Cyanocitta stelleri), a widespread North American songbird; Steller's sea eagle (Haliaeetus pelagicus), a large raptor of northeast Asia; Steller's eider (Polysticta stelleri), a large sea duck; and Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas), an extinct marine mammal described from specimens collected during the expedition. These eponymous names reflect Steller's role in early natural history in the North Pacific region.

The surname Steller remains in use and may refer to other individuals bearing the name. In scientific and cultural references, Steller often denotes things associated with Georg Wilhelm Steller because of his influence on exploration and natural history.