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Apr 19, 2022 · Learn about the largest of the true seals in the Northern Hemisphere, its appearance, behavior, diet, lifespan, reproduction, and threats. Find out how NOAA Fisheries protects and studies this endangered species in the eastern and central North Pacific Ocean.
- Mammalia
- Chordata
- Carnivora
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 family Phocidae (true seals ). 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 ...
- Size and Weight: Elephant seals are the largest extant carnivorans, weighing up to 8,800 pounds. They can reach up to 20 feet in length. The northern elephant seal is slightly smaller than its southern relative.
- Appearance: Elephant seals take their name not from their size but from the large proboscis of the adult male, called a bull, which is reminiscent of an elephant’s trunk.
- Diet: Elephant seals are carnivores. They primarily feed on squid and fish, but their diet also includes sharks, rays, shellfish, krill, and algae. Elephant seals spend months at sea in search of food.
- Habitat: Elephant seals spend up to 80% of their lives in the ocean. During the breeding season, Northern elephant seals inhabit sandy beaches, both on offshore islands and on some parts of the mainland United States.
The northern elephant seal is the second largest seal in the world after the southern elephant seal. As part of the phocid, or true seal, family, elephant seals have ear holes and short front flippers that allow them to move on land by flopping on their bellies, also known as “galumphing.”
Northern elephant seal bulls reach a length of 4.3 to 4.8 m (14 to 16 ft) and the heaviest weigh about 2,500 kg (5,500 lb). The northern and southern elephant seal can be distinguished by various external features. On average, the southern elephant seal tends to be larger than the northern species.
Learn about the two species of elephant seals, the northern and southern, and their distinctive features, behavior, and diet. Find out how they breed, migrate, and face threats from hunting and climate change.
Mar 17, 2020 · Learn about the second largest seal in the world, its distinctive features, habitat, feeding, reproduction, and conservation status. Find out how the Channel Islands provide critical habitat for this species and its unique adaptations.
