The Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris) is one of two species of elephant seal (the other is the Southern Elephant Seal). It is a member of the Phocidae ("true seals") family. Elephant seals derive their name from their great size and from the male's large proboscis, which is used in making extraordinarily loud roaring noises, especially during the mating competition. There is a great sexual dimorphism in size. Both adult and juvenile elephant seals are bare-skinned and black before molting. After molting they generally have a silver to dark gray coat that fades to brown yellow and tan. Adult males have hairless necks and chests speckled with pink, white and light brown. Pups are mostly black at birth and molt to a silver gray after weaning.
Ten Facts about Northern Elephant Seal
- Southern Elephant Seals can dive up to a maximum of 1500 meters or 4921 feet deep in water and remain inside for a period of about 2 hours.
- Elephant seals have a typical pattern of mating. On the arrival of the mating season, the males start to define and defend a particular territory. They collect around 40 to 50 females. Mating dominance is also seen among the male elephant seals. They battle aggressively with each other, some of which end with roaring and violent posturing.
- The Northern Elephant Seal lives in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Feeding grounds extend from northern Baja California to northern Vancouver Island.[2] Males migrate as far north as Alaska and British Columbia[2][3], while females migrate as far west as Hawaii.
- The Northern elephant seal returns to its terrestrial breeding ground in December and January, with the bulls arriving first.
- There average Life Span: Male - 20 years; Female - 23 years.
- Northern elephant seals eat at night and dive down deep into the water, normally between 1,000 and 2,600 feet, for their prey.
- Their diet consists of over 30 different types of fish including but not limited to squid, octopus, hagfish, ratfish, small sharks, spiny dogfish, eel and rockfish.
- The northern elephant seal is the second largest seal in the world weighing up to 4,500 pounds and measuring up to 13 feet long.
- These seals were once aggressively hunted for their oil and were almost on the brink of extinction.
- On their breeding beaches, elephant seals are known to sleep so soundly and deeply that it is possible for a person to sit on them without waking them up.
