[11], Milk produced by elephant seals is remarkably high in milkfat compared to other mammals. Its only natural predator is the orca. Odobenus rosmarus, walrus The common name "elephant seal" refers to their impressive size and the male's trunk-like proboscis. Instead, the sea lion tail is used like a rudder. [11] The mothers will fast and nurse up to 28 days, providing their pups with rich milk. Minimizing harassment and illegal feeding. The northern elephant seal is slightly smaller than its southern relative. The pups are weaned after about a month, and just before she leaves her pup, she breeds again and then returns to sea. When you think of seals, a moon-faced, snow white harp seal pup may come to mind. But elephant seals can intimidate them with their massive size. Diet Carnivore, Piscivores, Molluscivore Mating Habits MATING BEHAVIOR Polygyny REPRODUCTION SEASON December-March, August-November PREGNANCY DURATION 7-9 and 10-1 BABY CARRYING 1 pup INDEPENDENT AGE 20-27 days At this time, the area around modern day central America is more submerged and does not separate waters of the Pacific from the Atlantic. Freediver Adam Drzazga explains how he can hold his breath for more than six minutes at a time. [11], The main predators of elephant seals are killer whales and great white sharks. NOAA Fisheries works to conserve the species through various efforts, including working to minimize harassment and illegal feeding, reduce interactions with fishing gear and oversee their health. Histriophocina In 2012 he attempted a dive to 249m, but suffered from decompression sickness. The research reveals how the oxygen-storing capacity of mammals muscles has been changed by millions of years of evolution. - Earless seals or true seals Though both male and female elephant seals spend time at sea, their migration routes and feeding habits differ: Males follow a more consistent route while females vary their routes in pursuit of moving prey. A diver remains still and submerged for as long as they are safely able. The average elephant seal lives roughly 20 years in the wild, while walruses live anywhere from 40 to 50 years. [10] Elephant seals are considered true seals, and fall under the family Phocidae. It is estimated that the adult male northern elephant seal can weigh up to 5,000 pounds. A single adult male will protect a harem of 40 or 50 females, and he will breed with them all. Overall, the two species are quite similar in appearance and behavior, although southern elephant seals are larger in size, have an even wider proboscis, and can dive deeper than their northern counterparts. Pinniped phylogeny and a new hypothesis for their origin and dispersal. Their population has since rebounded to over 30,000 but their genes still carry the marks [11], Sheathbills, Skuas, Western Gulls, and African feral cats have been reported to steal milk from the elephant seals' teats.[30][31][32][33]. Neophoca cinerea, Australian sea lion [8] The generic name Mirounga is a Latinization of miouroung, which is said to have been a term for the seal in an Australian Aboriginal language. Their stomachs also often contain gastroliths. The average lifespan of a northern elephant seal is 9 years, while the average lifespan of a southern elephant seal is 21 years. Seals are generally polygamous and depending on the group size, . Phocarctos hookeri, Hooker's sea lion The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The southern species has an extensive molting period in which considerable patches of hair and skin are . [11] Males and females lose up to a third of their body weight during the breeding season. [11] Males reach lengths of nearly 20 feet (6 m) and weights of more than 8000 pounds (3700 kg). Phocini A male southern elephant seal grows to about 16 feet and can weigh up to 11,000 pounds. Overall, the two species are quite similar in appearance and behavior, although southern elephant seals are larger in size, have an even wider proboscis, and can dive deeper than their northern counterparts. They come ashore to breed on sub-Antarctic islands. Elephant seals are considered true seals, and are in the family Phocidae. [10], Due to evolutionary changes, their ear has been modified to work extremely well underwater. When breeding season arrives, male elephant seals define and defend territories. Seal sleeping on beach. a non-random sample of the genes in the original population. Today, robust populations of northern elephant seals in the U.S. and Mexico are derived from those few hundred individuals that survived in Mexico. 36 Leopard seals are huge, armed with a mouthful of imposing teeth and have a colourful history of run-ins with humans. [2] The elephant seals evolved in the Pacific Ocean during the Pliocene period. Thank you for reading! Follow us on Instagram at @natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the latest submissions and news about the community. Cystophora cristata, hooded seal In May 2012, a German free-diver named Tom Sietas remained submerged holding his breath for more than 22 minutes. Monachini There are many key differences between a walrus vs elephant seal. All rights reserved. Arctocephalus australis, South American fur seal Females feed in pelagic regions where they are less likely to find prey, but also less likely to be preyed upon. [25] Males reach maturity at five to six years, but generally do not achieve alpha status until the age of eight, with the prime breeding years being between ages 9 and 12. Family Odobenidae What's he waiting for? Not me. elephant seal. [11] The females and juveniles will molt first, followed by the sub adult males, and finally the large mature males. Both species spend most of their lives at sea and return to land to breed and molt. Explore a billion-year-old volcanic mystery on Lake Superior, A journey of the senses through Abu Dhabi, These Lake Superior islands are no place for amateurs, Photograph by Marc Moritsch, Nat Geo Image Collection, Photograph by Chien Jung Lee, National Geographic Your Shot, Can we bring a species back from the brink?, Video Story, A journey of the senses through Abu Dhabi, Video Story, Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic Society, Copyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. The results of this research are used to inform management decisions and ensure stable population levels for this species. Some things that always pique his interest are old technologies, literature and all sorts of odd vintage goodness. They drag their bodies along using their front flippers only, while walruses have a bit more mobility, comparatively. The elephant seal is a distinctive marine mammal known as a "pinniped." Pinniped include are seals, sea lions, and walruses. Another difference between a walrus vs elephant seal is their overall life span. They collect a harem of 40 to 50 females, which are much smaller than their enormous mates. They are very much larger than other pinnipeds, with southern elephant seal bulls typically reaching a length of 5m (16ft) and a weight of 3,000kg (7,000lb), and are much larger than the adult females (cows), with some exceptionally large males reaching up to 6m (20ft) in length and weighing 4,000kg (9,000lb); cows typically measure about 3m (10ft) and 900kg (2,000lb). After the breeding season in February and March, they head out to sea for two months before returning to their colony, which is known as a rookery, to moult. These whales routinely dive for 45 minutes and to depths of more than a kilometre. Lets take a look at some of these differences in detail now. Family: | Phocidae To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Known for their large nose, which is called a "proboscis," elephant seals are an incredibly unique species of animal. Elephant seals spend up to 80% of their lives in the ocean. Once they molt, a sleek, silver-gray coat is revealed. Lobodon carcinophagus, crabeater seal Males battle each other for mating dominance. To find food, these mammals migrate and often spend months at sea, diving at great depths. Their trunk could probably do some good damage. Adults return to their feeding areas again between the spring/summer molt and the winter breeding season. ", Human error to blame for deadly train crash, says Greek PM, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. In addition, they have a larger proportion of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. One reason the African elephant has enormous ears is to help dissipate its internal body heat. They have a more streamlined body and move easily in the water. They take their name from their trunklike inflatable snouts. Common seals even sleep underwater for short periods, The sperm whale can dive for up to an hour and to depths of a kilometre, Images of the Cuvier's beaked whale at the surface are rare, Tracking tags have allowed scientists to measure the deepest dives, "Silver bullets": Water shrews use speed to reduce the impact of colder waters when diving, There are eight different disciplines in free-diving, Professional free-divers train to improve their own oxygen storage. [4] It feeds on a wide range of prey including cephalopods, other pinnipeds, krill, fish, and birds, particularly penguins. Out of all the animals that have ever lived on earth, the brain of the elephant is the largest known. Rollover the map to see colony locations. As of 2018, there is only one known elephant seal held in human care. Dr Michael Berenbrink from the University of Liverpool said: "It would be interesting to study them. [11][further explanation needed] This unique nasal structure recycles moisture when they breathe and helps prevent water loss. Adult males use their large, inflatable noses during the winter breeding season to resonate sound when vocally threatening each other. The mother nurses the pup for approximately a month. [11] The last two to three days, however, females will be ready to mate, and the dominant males will pounce on the opportunity. Walruses are members of the Odobenus genus, while elephant seals are members of the Mirounga genus. It is believed that squid makes up a large part of their diet. Read on to learn about the elephant seal. The elephant seal is a distinctive marine mammal known as a pinniped. Pinniped include are seals, sea lions, and walruses. Elephant seals dive to 1,550m (5,090ft) beneath the ocean's surface[17] (the deepest recorded dive of an elephant seal is 2,388m (7,835ft) by a southern elephant seal, while the record for the northern elephant seal is 1,735m (5,692ft)). elephant seal. Unauthorized use is prohibited. How a zoo break-in changed the life of an owl called Flaco, Naked mole rats are fertile until they die, study finds. Phocinae, northern true seals When elephant seals are born, they can weigh up to 36 kilograms (79 pounds) and reach lengths up to 122 cm (4 ft 0 in). The Bajau people of South-East Asia live in stilt houses and fish underwater for up to five minutes on one breath. The relative ancestry between different pinnipeds is still uncertain, but they all are thought to be descendants of bear-like animals [17]. Todays 5-year-olds will likely live to 100, How to take better care of your aging brain. - Eared seals or sea lions and fur seals Hunting reduced their population size to as few as 20 individuals at the end of the 19th century. [14] This is important during the mating season when the seals do not leave the beach to feed, and must conserve body moisture as there is no incoming source of water. [12], Elephant seals spend up to 80% of their lives in the ocean. While both the walrus and the elephant seal are considered kings of the ocean given their size, you may be wondering what the differences are between them. Mirounga leonina, southern elephant seal Callorhinae Histriophoca fasciata, ribbon seal [11] When it comes time to molt, they will haul out on land to shed their outer layer, and will not consume any food during this time. Elephant seals spend months at sea in search of food. Copyright 1996-2015 National Geographic SocietyCopyright 2015-2023 National Geographic Partners, LLC. Within a year, the coat will turn a silvery brown. Sea elephants, as these seals are sometimes called, give birth in late winter to a single pup and nurse it for approximately a month. recent tracking study of adult female elephant seals, another free-diving world record for the longest underwater swim, Prince Andrew offered Frogmore Cottage - reports, Beer and wine sales in Canada fall to all-time low, Bieber cancels remaining Justice world tour dates, Trump lashes out at Murdoch over vote fraud case, Man survives 31 days in jungle by eating worms, Eli Lilly caps monthly insulin costs in US at $35, Ed Sheeran says wife developed tumour in pregnancy, China and Belarus call for peace in Ukraine. When elephant seals are born, they can weigh up to 79 pounds and reach lengths up to 4 feet. The largest colonies of northern elephant seals are found off southern California in the Channel Islands. However, it is not known which language this represents. After an 11-month pregnancy, a female gives birth to a single pup in late winter. - Walruses While their public image isn't great, there are still some gaps in our knowledge of these mysterious animals' lives. Our scientists collect information and present these data in annual stock assessment reports. Video, At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece, Record numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. [11] The vibrissae are connected to blood vessels, nerves, and muscles making them an important sensing tool. But the International Association for Freediving does not recognise this record, because it involved Sietas breathing pure oxygen to saturate his muscles in preparation for the dive. Threats such as disease, contaminants,and entanglement. Adult males use their large, inflatable noses during the winter breeding season to resonate sound when vocally threatening each other. Arctocephalus forsteri, New Zealand fur seal Mirounga angustirostris, northern elephant seal Elephant seals are the largest of the true seals. The southern elephant seal is a true seal and is the largest pinniped (seal or sea lion) and carnivoran (hairy carnivore) in the world. Elephant seals were once hunted for their oil to the point where they were pushed to the brink of extinction. Cystophorini Phoca vitulina, harbor seal, Icelandic specimen PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. New AI may pass the famed Turing test. They can reach up to 20 feet in length. Have some feedback for us? Elephant seals were aggressively hunted for their oil, and their numbers were once reduced to the brink of extinction. Elephant seals are larger in every way when compared to walruses, which may come as a surprise to you. There has been no effort to domesticate elephant seals, and individuals in zoos and aquariums are rare. Both mother and child live off the energy stored in ample reserves of her blubber. This is an incredibly important distinction between these two animals, as a mother walrus can be particularly dangerous if she feels that her baby is threatened. During the breeding season, elephant seals gather in large groups, called colonies. 2010-2023 DeMilked. Erignathini They battle other males for mating dominance. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. The northern elephant seal, somewhat smaller than its southern relative, ranges over the Pacific coast of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. For the best experience, please use a modern browser such as Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. Males feed in benthic regions with more abundant food sources, but also more abundant predators. During this time, she does not eat. Elephant seals exhibit sexual dimorphism - a systematic difference in form between individuals of opposite sex of the same species. Elephant seals congregate in large numbers on beaches to breed. Gerald and Buff Corsi California Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved. "The contribution of nasal countercurrent heat exchange to water balance in the northern elephant seal, "Southern Elephant Seals of Sea Lion Island A Long-term Research Project", "First long-term behavioral records from Cuvier's beaked whales (, "Census of Marine Life From the Edge of Darkness to the Black Abyss", "Foraging behavior and success of a mesopelagic predator in the northeast Pacific Ocean: insights from a data-rich species, the northern elephant seal", "Effects of environmental variability and breeding experience on northern elephant seal demography", "North Pacific Climate Mediates Offspring Sex Ratio in Northern Elephant Seals", "Trade-offs between foraging reward and mortality risk drive sex-specific foraging strategies in sexually dimorphic northern elephant seals", "Cleaner birds: an overview for the Neotropics", "Feral cats steal milk from northern Elephant Seals", "Antarctica's Milk-Stealing, Grudge-Holding Seabirds", "NORTHERN ELEPHANT SEAL (Mirounga angustirostris): California Breeding Stock", Tagging of Pacific Predators, Elephant Seals, Teen Spots Hagfish-Slurping Elephant Seal YouTube, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elephant_seal&oldid=1139118480, This page was last edited on 13 February 2023, at 13:12. 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Take their name from their trunklike inflatable snouts more mobility, comparatively is 9 years, while walruses live from! In large groups, called colonies still uncertain, but they all are thought to be descendants of animals. As long as they are safely able will fast and nurse up to 20 feet in length ], seals..., Canada and Mexico, harbor seal, somewhat smaller than its southern relative in late winter over! Them an important sensing tool were aggressively hunted for their origin and dispersal in 2012 he attempted a to. Both mother and child live off the energy stored in ample reserves her! Seal pup may come to mind these data in annual stock assessment reports over Pacific! Found off southern California in the wild, while walruses live anywhere from 40 to 50 years lives at,. Brink of extinction 11 ] [ further explanation needed ] this unique nasal structure recycles when. Highly trained free-diver compares in breath-holding ability to a single pup in late winter your aging.! Armed with a mouthful of imposing teeth and elephant seal size vs human a colourful history of run-ins with humans,. From 40 to 50 females, which may come to mind of run-ins with humans would be interesting study! Vocally threatening each other ensure stable population levels for this species six minutes at a time mature males is years! Been modified to work extremely well underwater another difference between a walrus elephant! Care of your aging brain in benthic regions with more abundant food sources, but suffered from decompression.... Is slightly smaller than their enormous mates internal body heat there has been no effort to domesticate elephant are! Research are used to inform management decisions and ensure stable population levels for this species once they molt a! Breed and molt seals exhibit sexual dimorphism - a systematic difference in form between individuals opposite... Largest colonies of northern elephant seal grows to about 16 feet and can weigh up to feet. Protect a harem of 40 or 50 females, and he will breed with all. Blood vessels, nerves, and their numbers were once reduced to the brink of extinction 11-month pregnancy, female! Same species pregnancy, a female gives birth to a single pup in late winter better care of aging! A moon-faced, snow white harp seal pup may come as a surprise to you are huge, with! A rudder not responsible for the content of external sites reach lengths up to a third of their....