The southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) is one of the two species of elephant seals.It is the largest member of the clade Pinnipedia and the order Carnivora, as well as the largest extant marine mammal that is not a cetacean.It gets its name from its massive size and the large proboscis of the adult male, which is used to produce very loud roars, especially during the breeding season. There are two species of elephant seal. The males can weigh up to 8,500 lb and the females 2,000 lb. The Southern Elephant Seal is the largest of all seals in the world. Southern seals and Northern seals. Seal sizes. Southern elephant seal pups are prey for sharks, leopard seals, and sea lions. Adult male elephant seals belonging to the northern species tend to have a larger proboscis, and thick chest area with a red coloration compared to the southern species. Do southern elephant seals have any predators? Southern elephants seals are the larger of the two and live in Antarctica; northern elephant seals breed off the California coast. The males are generally twice as long as the females. The northern elephant seal is the largest of the “true” seal in the Northern Hemisphere. Pups and adults can be attacked by orca whales. The largest colonies of northern elephant seals are found off southern California in the Channel Islands. The males can be up to 20 feet in length. The northern and southern elephant seal can be distinguished by various external features. In … While swimming, southern elephant seals move at speeds around 5 - 10 kph (3 - 6 mph). Discover how and why National Park Service scientists study the elephant seals at Point Reyes year after year. The southern elephant seal is the largest species of seal. Adult males range from about 4.5 m to 5.8 m in length, and weigh from about 1,500 up to as much as 3,700 kg. Introduction to Southern Elephant Seals. If you witness someone harassing a marine mammal, call 1-805-927-2068. Southern Elephant Seals - Mirounga leonina Elephant seals are the largest of all seals, they show a strong sexual dimorphism (difference in size between the males and females). We’ll find out more about its incredible diving abilities further down the page … Can you see how the elephant seal got its name? Do not feed the squirrels. The males have an inflatable proboscis, which gives the name 'elephant seal', though the proboscis is only fully developed in adult males. A fully grown male and female side by side are commonly mistaken for an adult and juvenile. There are 18 species of true seals, according to Seals World. These large seals are named for the inflatable trunk-like nose found on males of the species. The genus Mirounga includes two species: the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) and the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina). Size of a southern male elephant seal is about 6 meters (20 feet) long, and weight up to 6000 kilograms (8,800 pounds). Just like us, they have fat to keep them warm in the Sub-antarctic climate ... Leopard seals generally live … Dogs and seals do not mix. Southern elephant seal . Although the southern elephant seal is big and cumbersome on land, in the water it is a master swimmer. Elephant seals are the largest seals on the earth with two major species i.e. Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga Angustirostris) The northern elephant seal is the largest seal in the northern hemisphere and the second largest seal in the world (after the southern elephant seal). Southern elephant seals can move along the ground at about 5 kph (3 mph) while on land. Adult males use their large, inflatable noses during the winter breeding season to resonate sound when vocally threatening each other. Where do elephant seals live? Elephant seals are protected by federal law. Elephant Seals do not live underwater because they are mammals and need to breath! They are a dark brown to light gray in color just like elephants. Although popularly known as an elephant, the truth is that this marine species does not bear any relationship to the aforementioned terrestrial mammal. The northern species is nonmigratory; the southern elephant seal, like the northern form, breeds and molts on land, but it winters at sea, possibly near the pack ice. video to learn how to differentiate elephant seals from other pinnipeds. On average, the southern elephant seal tends to be larger than the northern species. Southern Elephant Seals feed upon fish and squid. Watch the Elephants, Seals, and Lions, Oh My! Adult males are 14 to 16 feet (4 to 5 m) in length and 4,000 to 5,000 pounds (1,400 to 2,300 kg) in weight. Breeding Southern Elephant Seals breed each year between August and November. Where Do Southern Elephant Seals Live? The Dive Response. During the breeding season, elephant seals become aggressive toward each other. Female southern elephant seals reach sexual maturity as early as three years of age, while males reach sexual maturity at six.