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Elephant Seal
Male and female Northern Elephant Seals
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Mammalia Order: Carnivora Suborder: Pinnipedia Family: Phocidae Genus: Mirounga
Species
M. angustirostris M. leonina Image File history File links Acap. ... Binomial name Mirounga angustirostris (Gill, 1866) The Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris) is one of two species of elephant seal (the other is the Southern Elephant Seal). ... Scientific classification redirects here. ... For other uses, see Animal (disambiguation). ... Classes See below Chordates (phylum Chordata) are a group of animals that includes the vertebrates, together with several closely related invertebrates. ... Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria For the folk-rock band see The Mammals. ... Families 17, See classification The diverse order Carnivora (IPA: or ; from Latin carō (stem carn-) flesh, + vorāre to devour) includes over 260 species of placental mammals. ... Families Odobenidae Otariidae Phocidae Pinnipeds (fin-feet, lit. ... Genera Monachus (Monk Seals) Mirounga (Elephant Seal) Lobodon (Crabeater Seals) Leptonychotes Hydrurga (Leopard Seals) Ommatophoca Erignathus (Bearded Seals) Phoca Halichoerus (Gray Seals) Cystophora (Hooded Seals) The true seals or earless seals are one of the three main groups of mammals within the seal suborder, Pinnipedia. ... For other uses, see Species (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Mirounga angustirostris (Gill, 1866) The Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris) is one of two species of elephant seal (the other is the Southern Elephant Seal). ... Binomial name Mirounga leonina Linnaeus, 1758 The Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) is one of two species of elephant seal (the other is the Northern Elephant Seal). ...

Elephant seals are large, oceangoing mammals in the genus Mirounga, in the earless seal (Phocidae) family. There are two species: the Northern Elephant Seal (M. angustirostris) and the Southern Elephant Seal (M. leonina). Both were hunted to the brink of extinction by the end of the nineteenth century, but numbers have since recovered. The Northern Elephant Seal, somewhat smaller than its southern relative, ranges over the Pacific coast of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. The Southern Elephant Seal is found in the southern hemisphere on islands such as South Georgia, Macquarie Island, and on the coasts of New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina in the Peninsula Valdés, which is the fourth largest elephant seal colony in the world. Subclasses & Infraclasses Subclass †Allotheria* Subclass Prototheria Subclass Theria Infraclass †Trituberculata Infraclass Metatheria Infraclass Eutheria For the folk-rock band see The Mammals. ... For other uses, see Genus (disambiguation). ... Genera Monachus (Monk Seals) Mirounga (Elephant Seal) Lobodon (Crabeater Seals) Leptonychotes Hydrurga (Leopard Seals) Ommatophoca Erignathus (Bearded Seals) Phoca Halichoerus (Grey Seals) Cystophora (Hooded Seals) The true seals or earless seals are one of the three main groups of mammals within the seal suborder, Pinnipedia. ... The hierarchy of scientific classification In biological classification, family (Latin: familia, plural familiae) is a rank, or a taxon in that rank. ... Binomial name Mirounga angustirostris (Gill, 1866) The Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris) is one of two species of elephant seal (the other is the Southern Elephant Seal). ... Binomial name Mirounga leonina Linnaeus, 1758 The Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) is one of two species of elephant seal (the other is the Northern Elephant Seal). ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... For other meanings of Pacific, see Pacific (disambiguation). ... For other uses of terms redirecting here, see US (disambiguation), USA (disambiguation), and United States (disambiguation) Motto In God We Trust(since 1956) (From Many, One; Latin, traditional) Anthem The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City National language English (de facto)1 Demonym American... southern hemisphere highlighted in yellow (Antarctica not depicted). ... South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom, also claimed by Argentina. ... Macquarie Island lies in the southwest corner of the Pacific Ocean, about half-way between Australia and Antarctica. ... Peninsula Valdés, photo taken during shuttle mission STS-68 The Valdes Peninsula (Spanish Península Valdés) is a peninsula along the Atlantic coast in Chubut Province, Argentina. ...

Appearance

Male Southern Elephant Seal in Kerguelen Islands

Elephant seals take their name from the great size of their bodies and the large proboscis of the adult males (bulls) which resembles an elephant's trunk. The bull's proboscis is used in producing extraordinarily loud roaring noises, especially during the mating season. More importantly, however, the nose acts as a sort of rebreather, filled with cavities designed to reabsorb moisture from the animals' exhalations. This is important during the mating season when the male seals rarely leave the beach to feed, and therefore must conserve body moisture, as they have no incoming source of water. Bulls of both the northern elephant seal and the southern elephant seal reach a length of 18 ft (5.5 m) and a weight of 5,000 lb (2,270 kg), and are much larger than the cows, which typically measure about 10 ft (3 m) and 1,430 lb (650 kg). The largest known bull elephant seal weighed 5000 kg (11,000 lb) and measured 6.9 m (22.5 ft) in length. This makes the elephant seal the largest member of the order Carnivora. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 544 pixelsFull resolution (3436 × 2338 pixel, file size: 757 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) fr: éléphant de mer du sud (mâle) en: southern elephant-seal (male) scan de photo :B.navez - Kerguelen - 1999 File history Legend: (cur) = this... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 544 pixelsFull resolution (3436 × 2338 pixel, file size: 757 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) fr: éléphant de mer du sud (mâle) en: southern elephant-seal (male) scan de photo :B.navez - Kerguelen - 1999 File history Legend: (cur) = this... Binomial name Mirounga leonina Linnaeus, 1758 The Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) is one of two species of elephant seal (the other is the Northern Elephant Seal). ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Closeup image of the Cairns Birdwing, showing its large proboscis A syrphid fly using its proboscis to reach the nectar of a flower In general, a proboscis (from Greek pro before and boskein to feed) is an elongated appendage from the head of an animal. ... Genera and Species Loxodonta Loxodonta cyclotis Loxodonta africana Elephas Elephas maximus Elephas antiquus † Elephas beyeri † Elephas celebensis † Elephas cypriotes † Elephas ekorensis † Elephas falconeri † Elephas iolensis † Elephas planifrons † Elephas platycephalus † Elephas recki † Stegodon † Mammuthus † Elephantidae (the elephants) is a family of pachyderm, and the only remaining family in the order Proboscidea... IT FEELS REALLY GOOD IF YOU IMATATE THE ANIMALS. LOL! “Mounting” redirects here. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... A foot (plural: feet or foot;[1] symbol or abbreviation: ft or, sometimes, ′ – a prime) is a unit of length, in a number of different systems, including English units, Imperial units, and United States customary units. ... Look up pound in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Families 17, See classification The diverse order Carnivora (IPA: or ; from Latin carō (stem carn-) flesh, + vorāre to devour) includes over 260 species of placental mammals. ...

Ecology

Male Northern Elephant Seals fighting in California

Elephant seals spend up to 80 percent of their lives in the ocean. They can hold their breath for over 80 minutes—longer than any other non-cetacean mammal. Furthermore, elephant seals possess the ability to dive to 1500 meters beneath the ocean's surface. The average depth of their dives is about 300 to 600 meters, typically for around 20 min, as they search for their favorite foods, which are skates, rays, squid, octopuses, eels, and small sharks. Their stomachs also often contain gastroliths. While excellent swimmers, they are even more surprising on land, where they have a higher velocity than the average human when moving over sand dunes.The record dive of a Elephant Seal is 5,015ft by a male in 1991. Binomial name Mirounga angustirostris (Gill, 1866) The Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris) is one of two species of elephant seal (the other is the Southern Elephant Seal). ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Suborders Mysticeti Odontoceti Archaeoceti (extinct) (see text for families) The order Cetacea (IPA: , L. cetus, whale) includes whales, dolphins and porpoises. ... Broad skate, Amblyraja badia A skate egg case, known as a mermaids purse. ... Families Anacanthobatidae Dasyatidae Gymnuridae Hexatrygonidae Myliobatidae Plesiobatidae Potamotrygonidae Rajidae Rhinobatidae Urolophidae Rajiformes is the order of true rays and skates, flat-bodied cartilaginous fishes related to sharks. ... For other uses, see Squid (disambiguation). ... Families 14 in two suborders, see text The octopus is a cephalopod of the order Octopoda that inhabits many diverse regions of the ocean, especially coral reefs. ... For other uses, see Eel (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Shark (disambiguation). ... Gastroliths (stomach stones or gizzard stones) are rocks, which are or have been held inside the digestive tract of an animal. ...

Elephant seals are shielded from extreme cold by their blubber, more than by fur. The skin on top of this blubber and its hair molts periodically. It has to be re-grown by blood vessels reaching through the blubber. When molting occurs, the seal is susceptible to the cold, and must rest on land, in a safe place called a "haul-out." The type of molt which an elephant seal undergoes is a catastrophic molt. While this is taking place, the bulls actually cease fighting with one another. Remains of seventeenth century blubber cauldrons at the abandoned Dutch settlement of Smeerenburg in Svalbard, Norway This article is about the body tissue. ... In birds, moulting or molting is the routine shedding of old feathers. ...

Elephant seals have evolved to have a very large volume of blood, allowing them to hold a large amount of oxygen for use when diving. They have large sinuses in their abdomens to hold blood and can also store oxygenated blood in their muscles. In addition they have a larger proportion of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. All these adaptions enable them to dive for periods up to 2 hours.^[1]

Lifespan

Female elephant seals have an average life expectancy of about 20 years, and can give birth starting at the age of 3–4. Males reach maturity at five years, but generally don't achieve alpha status until the age of 8, with the prime breeding years being between ages 9 and 12. The average life expectancy of a male elephant seal is 14 years.

Gallery

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Mirounga angustirostris

Elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) on a beach, San Simeon, California San Simeon (ZIP Code: 93452) is a settlement on the Pacific coast of San Luis Obispo County, California notable in two respects: Its position along Pacific Coast Highway is almost precisely halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, each of those towns being roughly 230 mi (370 km) away. ...

Northern Elephant Seals during moulting season near San Simeon, California, USA Binomial name Mirounga angustirostris (Gill, 1866) The Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris) is one of two species of elephant seal (the other is the Southern Elephant Seal). ... In animals, moulting (Commonwealth English) or molting (American English) is the routine shedding off old feathers in birds, or of old skin in reptiles, or of old hairs in mammals (see also coat (dog)). In arthropods, such as insects, arachnids and crustaceans, moulting describes the shedding of its exoskeleton (which... San Simeon (ZIP Code: 93452) is a settlement on the Pacific coast of San Luis Obispo County, California notable in two respects: Its position along Pacific Coast Highway is almost precisely halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco, each of those towns being roughly 230 mi (370 km) away. ... This article is about the U.S. state. ... Motto: (traditional) In God We Trust (official, 1956–present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at the federal level; English de facto Government Federal Republic  - President George W. Bush (R)  - Vice President Dick Cheney (R) Independence - Declared - Recognized...

See also

• Marine Mammal Center

Release of rehabilitated pinnipeds into the Pacific Ocean The Marine Mammal Center is a private non-profit organization centered on rescue, rehabilitation, environmental research and education pertaining to certain species within the pinnipedia, carnivora and cetacea biological orders. ...

References

External links

• Friends of the Elephant seal
• Elephant Seal Research Group
• Elephant seals

Genera Monachus (Monk Seals) Mirounga (Elephant Seal) Lobodon (Crabeater Seals) Leptonychotes Hydrurga (Leopard Seals) Ommatophoca Erignathus (Bearded Seals) Phoca Halichoerus (Grey Seals) Cystophora (Hooded Seals) The true seals or earless seals are one of the three main groups of mammals within the seal suborder, Pinnipedia. ... Phyla Subkingdom Parazoa Porifera (sponges) Subkingdom Agnotozoa Placozoa Orthonectida Rhombozoa Subkingdom Metazoa Radiata Cnidaria Ctenophora - Comb jellies Bilateria Protostomia Acoelomorpha Platyhelminthes - Flatworms Nemertina - Ribbon worms Gastrotricha Gnathostomulida - Jawed worms Micrognathozoa Rotifera - Rotifers Acanthocephala Priapulida Kinorhyncha Loricifera Entoprocta Nematoda - Roundworms Nematomorpha - Horsehair worms Cycliophora Mollusca - Mollusks Sipuncula - Peanut worms Annelida - Segmented... Typical Classes Subphylum Urochordata - Tunicates Ascidiacea Thaliacea Larvacea Subphylum Cephalochordata - Lancelets Subphylum Myxini - Hagfishes Subphylum Vertebrata - Vertebrates Petromyzontida - Lampreys Placodermi (extinct) Chondrichthyes - Cartilaginous fishes Acanthodii (extinct) Actinopterygii - Ray-finned fishes Actinistia - Coelacanths Dipnoi - Lungfishes Amphibia - Amphibians Reptilia - Reptiles Aves - Birds Mammalia - Mammals Chordates (phylum Chordata) include the vertebrates, together with... Orders Subclass Monotremata Monotremata Subclass Marsupialia Didelphimorphia Paucituberculata Microbiotheria Dasyuromorphia Peramelemorphia Notoryctemorphia Diprotodontia Subclass Placentalia Xenarthra Dermoptera Desmostylia Scandentia Primates Rodentia Lagomorpha Insectivora Chiroptera Pholidota Carnivora Perissodactyla Artiodactyla Cetacea Afrosoricida Macroscelidea Tubulidentata Hyracoidea Proboscidea Sirenia The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals primarily characterized by the presence of mammary... Families 17, See classification The diverse order Carnivora (IPA: or ; from Latin carō (stem carn-) flesh, + vorāre to devour) includes over 260 species of placental mammals. ... Families Canidae Felidae Herpestidae Hyaenidae Mephitidae Mustelidae Nandiniidae Odobenidae Pinnipedia Procyonidae Ursidae Viverridae The diverse order Carnivora includes over 260 placental mammals. ... Monk seals Categories: Animal stubs ... Binomial name Monachus schauinslandi Matschie, 1905 The Hawaiian Monk Seal (Monachus schauinslandi) in the Family Phocidae, is an endangered marine mammal that is endemic to the warm, clear waters of the Hawaiian Islands. ... Binomial name Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779) Mediterranean Monk Seal range The Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus) is believed to be the worlds rarest pinniped and one of the most endangered mammals of the world. ... Binomial name Mirounga angustirostris (Gill, 1866) The Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris) is one of two species of elephant seal (the other is the Southern Elephant Seal). ... Binomial name Mirounga leonina Linnaeus, 1758 The Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) is one of two species of elephant seal (the other is the Northern Elephant Seal). ... Binomial name Ommatophoca rossii (Gray, 1844) The Ross Seal (Ommatophoca rossii) is a carnivorous seal of the family Phocidae and only species of the genus Ommatophoca. ... Binomial name Ommatophoca rossii (Gray, 1844) The Ross Seal (Ommatophoca rossii) is a carnivorous seal of the family Phocidae and only species of the genus Ommatophoca. ... Binomial name Hombron & Jacquinot, 1842 Distribution of Crabeater Seal The Crabeater Seal, Lobodon carcinophagus, is one of the most remarkable, though least known, of the mammals of the world. ... Binomial name Hombron & Jacquinot, 1842 Distribution of Crabeater Seal The Crabeater Seal, Lobodon carcinophagus, is one of the most remarkable, though least known, of the mammals of the world. ... Binomial name (Blainville, 1820) Hydrurga leptonyx range map. ... Binomial name (Blainville, 1820) Hydrurga leptonyx range map. ... Binomial name (Lesson, 1826) Weddell seal range  Water  Range  Ice Weddell Seal, Neko Harbour, Antarctica Weddell Seal puppy with its grey natal coat, Deception Island The Weddell Seal (Leptonychotes weddellii), is a true seal that occurs in large numbers and inhabit the circumpolar region of the southern hemisphere, including Antarctica. ... Binomial name (Lesson, 1826) Weddell seal range  Water  Range  Ice Weddell Seal, Neko Harbour, Antarctica Weddell Seal puppy with its grey natal coat, Deception Island The Weddell Seal (Leptonychotes weddellii), is a true seal that occurs in large numbers and inhabit the circumpolar region of the southern hemisphere, including Antarctica. ... Binomial name Erignathus barbatus Erxleben, 1777 The bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) is a medium-sized seal that is found in and near to the Arctic Ocean. ... Binomial name Erignathus barbatus Erxleben, 1777 The bearded seal (Erignathus barbatus) is a medium-sized seal that is found in and near to the Arctic Ocean. ... Binomial name Cystophora christata (Erxleben, 1777) The hooded seal (Cystophora christata) is an arctic seal, which is named after a cap-like bulge essay on forehead and nose of the male that doesn’t hang down as with the elephant seal. ... Binomial name Cystophora christata (Erxleben, 1777) The hooded seal (Cystophora christata) is an arctic seal, which is named after a cap-like bulge essay on forehead and nose of the male that doesn’t hang down as with the elephant seal. ... Species Phoca caspica(Caspian Seal) Phoca fasciata(Ribbon Seal) Phoca groenlandica(Harp Seal) Phoca hispida(Ringed Seal) Phoca largha(Spotted Seal) Phoca sibirica(Nerpaor Baikal Seal) Phoca vitulina(Common Seal) Phoca is a genus of the earless seals, within the Family Phocidae. ... Binomial name bobbi Linnaeus,, 1758 Common or Harbour Seals (Phoca vitulina) are true seals of the Northern Hemisphere. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... For the president (heads of state) of the United States, see President of the United States. ... Binomial name Pusa hispida (Schreber, 1775) The Ringed Seal or Jar Seal (Pusa hispida formerly Phoca hispida) is an earless seal inhabiting the northern coasts. ... Binomial name Phoca sibirica Gmelin, 1788 The Nerpa or Baikal Seal (Phoca sibirica) is a species of earless seal endemic to Lake Baikal, a huge freshwater lake in Siberia near the border with Mongolia). ... Binomial name Pusa caspica (Gmelin, 1788) Caspian seals (Pusa caspica), one of the smallest members of the true seal family, are unique in that they are found exclusively in the brackish Caspian Sea. ... Binomial name Erxleben, 1777 // Harp seals resemble harbor seals in body and head form, but are larger: adult Harp Seals grow to 1. ... Binomial name Erxleben, 1777 // Harp seals resemble harbor seals in body and head form, but are larger: adult Harp Seals grow to 1. ... Binomial name (Zimmermann, 1783) Ribbon seal range (blue - summer, pink - maximal) The Ribbon Seal (Histriophoca fasciata) is a pinniped from the true seal family (Phocidae). ... Binomial name (Zimmermann, 1783) Ribbon seal range (blue - summer, pink - maximal) The Ribbon Seal (Histriophoca fasciata) is a pinniped from the true seal family (Phocidae). ... Binomial name (Fabricius, 1791) Grey Seal range (in blue) The Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus) is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. ... Binomial name (Fabricius, 1791) Grey Seal range (in blue) The Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus) is found on both shores of the North Atlantic Ocean. ...