Northern elephant seals are the largest of the âtrueâ, or âearlessâ, seals in all of the Northern Hemisphere. Adult Northern elephant seals are light brown to black in color. On the Whale Trail, Northern elephant seals can be seen at sea while they are at the surface between their long dives. He might weigh as much as 4,500 pounds, and he can flop his jiggly body across the sand as fast as we can run. Northern Elephant Seal Characterized by extreme sexual dimorphism: males weigh 8-10 more than females. The Northern Elephant Seal is smaller than those from the Southern part of the world. Males start to form harems around 9-10 years old and battle for status among the adult males. Can you spot the Northern Elephant Seals in these photos? The largest known bull elephant seal was 6.7 metres in length and weighed 3400 kilograms (about four tons). The bull southern elephant seals are, on average, larger than those in the northern species, but the females in both are around the same size, indicating the even hig… Humans aren't the only ones that are attracted to the California coastline, Northern Elephant Seals migrate thousands of miles to these beaches twice a year to breed, give birth, molt and rest. 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 elephant seal is the second largest seal in the world, after the southern elephant seal. A few of the animals are found in Chile. In Washington, adult females can be in their feeding areas of Washington and Oregon, during their time between spring/summer molting and winter breeding season. Fun Facts for Kids. These seals group together in large colonies when they are on land. They are the sole members of the genus âMiroungaâ of the family âPhocidaeâ or âtrue sealsâ. Did You Know? Northern elephant seals are polygamous breeders, meaning during the mating season males establish a dominance over a large group of females. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_seal, https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/group/elephant-seals/, http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/education/marine-mammal-information/pinnipeds/northern-elephant-seal/?print=t. Males grow to huge sizes, and they can weigh 8,800 pounds (3,991 kg) or more. They use their large nose to makes sounds and vocally threatening other males. Elephant seals, and pups in particular, are also on the menu of other animals. The northern elephant seal is the second largest seal in the world, after the southern elephant seal. Female northern elephant seal. The southern species has an extensive molting period in which considerable patches of hair and skin are shed. Please do not attempt to approach what looks like an animal in distress. Get involved! They are shorter too at only 12 feet. The females are much smaller at 10 feet (3 m) in length and 1,500 pounds (600 kg). Adult males may grow to over 13 feet (4 m) in length and weigh up to 4,500 pounds (2,000 kg). Southern elephant seals are the largest seal species, followed by Northern seals. The northern elephant seal is the second largest seal in the world, after the southern elephant seal. The males are very large with a weight of up to 5,000 pounds. Did You Know? Elephant seals feed on fish and on squid or other cephalopods. The biggest bull Northern elephant seals weigh about 5,000 pounds. The largest colonies are found off southern California and the Channel Islands. Elephant seals have a sandy brown colored coat with no spots. Southern elephant seals are the largest seal species, followed by Northern seals. The northern elephant seal lives up to nine years, and the southern elephant seal lives between twenty to twenty-two years. The adult male, “the elephant of the sea,” has a large flexible snout that looks like an elephant’s trunk. The other species, the southern elephant seal, lives in the Southern Hemispheres and is found in islands like Macquarie Island. Fill out our nomination form for that amazing site. During this time, they survive only off of stored blubber (fat) and won't eat for up to five weeks. September-November is a good time to see them from shore. When foraging, the dive depth of the Northern elephant seal averages 500 to 600 m (1,640 - 1,970 ft), but it is able to dive to as much as 1,500 m (4,920 ft) and stay under water for over 1 hour. Pups are born black and will molt into a silver coat after 4-6 weeks, once they are weened. Adult males may grow to 14-16 feet (4-5 m) in length and weigh up to 5,000 pounds (2,300 kg). These seals r… The Whale Trail updated their cover photo. Northern elephant seals’ habitat runs all the way from the Pacific Coast of three states; Canada, the US, and Mexico. The biggest on record was nearly 11,000 pounds in weight. Resources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elephant_sealhttps://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/group/elephant-seals/http://www.marinemammalcenter.org/education/marine-mammal-information/pinnipeds/northern-elephant-seal/?print=t. Femaleâs snouts grow just beyond the mouth and have smoother necks. Northern elephant seals spend most of the year, about 9 months, in the ocean and can only be seen on land during pupping season. The northern and southern elephant seal can be distinguished by various external features. The northern elephant seal is the second largest seal in the world, after the southern … Life Expectancy Southern elephant seals are able to dive to over 4,921 feet (1,500 meters) and remain underwater for as long as two hours. (GA image) Female northern elephant seals can be over ten feet long, weigh over 1,300 pounds, and live over 20 years whereas southern elephant seal females may be over ten feet long, weight over 2,000 pounds, and be over 23 years. Elephant seals come ashore in the winter to mate and give birth. It is estimated that the adult male northern elephant seal can weigh up to 5,000 pounds. The huge male northern elephant seal typically weighs 1,500–2,300 kg (3,300–5,100 lb) and measures 4–5 m (13–16 ft), although some males can weigh up to 3,700 kg (8,200 lb). The population estimate for the California stock of Northern elephant seals is around 180,000. ... in length and 4,000 to 5,000 pounds (1,400 to 2,300 kg) in weight. Scientific Name In both sexes, the body is long and robust, and the neck very thick. Fully grown males can reach lengths of over 13 feet and can weigh nearly 4,400 pounds. Females are much smaller and can range from 400 to 900 kg (880 to 1,980 lb) in weight, or roughly a third of the male's bulk, and measure from 2.5 to 3.6 m (8.2 to 11.8 ft). The huge male northern elephant seal typically weighs 1,500–2,300 kg (3,300–5,100 lb) and measures 4–5 m (13–16 ft), although some males can weigh up to 3,700 kg (8,200 lb). @WDFW sets new rules for commercial whale-watching to protect southern residents. Length Length Share your ima. Southern elephant seals are able to dive to over 4,921 feet (1,500 meters) and remain underwater for as long as two hours. They lack external ear flaps and have smaller fore flippers than other pinnipeds. After being weaned at 4 weeks of age, pups fast completely while learning to swim and dive before going to sea in search of food. On average, the biggest Southern elephant seals weigh over 8,000 pounds. Learn More. These mammals are among the largest of the group comprising aquatic carnivores in the Northern Hemisphere. Males have an enlarged proboscis or ‘trunk’, hence the name elephant seal. The Northern Elephant Seal Mirounga angustirostris. Since that time, elephant seals have continued to multiply exponentially, and they have extended their breeding range as far north as Point Reyes. Much more agile in their ocean environment, an elephant seal moves on land with considerable effort, by using its front flippers and belly. 7 Southern seals and Northern seals. Males grow to huge sizes, and they can weigh 8,800 pounds (3,991 kg) or more. They usually dive to depths of between 1,000 and 2,500 feet. Their bodies seem to be designed more for spending 8-10 months a year in the open ocean than on land. Pups increase their birthweight by a factor of 3-7 times on mother's milk alone. This hunk of chonk, the size and shape of Jabba the Hutt, is a male northern elephant seal. Both sexes have black whiskers and V-shaped hind flippers. Race Rocks, along with the Pacific Coast, is the northernmost breeding ground. Share your inspiring story below or tag #thewhaletrail. Other places it is found include the coast of Argentina, New Zealand, and South Africa. 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. Largest seal in the northern hemisphere. ... See MoreSee Less, Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email, Good news for Orcas! For northern elephant seals, the situation is similar, but less extreme. The Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris) and the Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) were both hunted nearly to extinction by the end of the nineteenth [â¦] Size of a southern male elephant seal is about 6 meters (20 feet) long, and weight up to 6000 kilograms (8,800 pounds). The biggest bull Northern elephant seals weigh about 5,000 pounds. The population began to increase in the 1900s. During mating season, Northern elephant seals fast and can lose up to 36% of their body weight. The adult male, âthe elephant of the sea,â has a large flexible snout that looks like an elephantâs trunk. NOAA Fisheries - Northern Elephant SealNOAA Fisheries West Coast - Northern Elephant Seal. Elephant seals are expert underwater hunters who search for food at night and are capable of diving deep below the waves. Blocking the path is a massive blob of quivering blubber, braying like a donkey. ; Females: 990â1,300 lb. Elephant seal pups weigh around 75 pounds (34 kg) when they are born. These seals may weigh about the same as a small SUV, but can look a lot like driftwood on the beach at first glance. In Washington, it is rare to see them ashore. Females reach 9 feet and 1,600 pounds. Northern Elephant Seal The females are much smaller at 10 feet (3 m) in length and 1,500 pounds (600 kg). The Northern Elephant Seal is smaller than those from the Southern part of the world. The female, on the other hand, weighs about a third of the male, which is a dramatic example of sexual dimorphism, or physical size difference between the sexes of a species. Elephant seals are the largest seals on the earth with two major species i.e. They are very large and the males have what is similar to an elephantâs trunk on their face yet it is very short. Learn More. Northern elephant seals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and are not considered endangered or threatened. Most elephant seals will return to natal rookeries when they reach sexual maturity. \"Where do they go?\" - a simple question that has been difficult to answer. Today, there are approximately 160,000 northern elephant seals. Breeding primarily occurs on offshore islands of California and Mexico, such as the Channel Islands, and at rookeries on the central California coast. The northern elephant seal is yellowish or gray-brown, and the southern is blue-gray. 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