The proboscis is considered a secondary sexual characteristic. Photo credit: Marine Mammals of Maine. When does spring start? Photo: NOAA Fisheries. [11][24] By the time males reach eight to nine years of age, they have developed a pronounced long nose, in addition to a chest shield, which is thickened skin in their chest area. This pup will nurse for just one month before being weaned. Phoca sibirica, Baikal seal With similar digital tags, researchers at the US-based Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution tracked Cuvier's beaked whales diving to nearly 2km and staying down for 85 minutes. Phoca largha, largha seal [27] More male pups are produced than female pups in years with warmer sea surface temperature in the northeastern Pacific Ocean. [10] However, it makes navigating on land more difficult because they cannot turn their hind flippers forward to walk like the otariids. The southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) is one of 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. One day, this guy just kind of figured - "I spend most of my time on the internet anyway, why not turn it into a profession?" Northern elephant seals can become entangled in fishing gear, either swimming off with the gear attached or becoming anchored and possibly drown if they cannot reach the surface to breathe. Monachus monachus, Mediterranean monk seal Females begin breeding at age 36, and have one pup per breeding attempt. Unauthorized use is prohibited. [11], Birth on average only takes a few minutes, and the mother and pup have a connection due to each other's unique smell and sound. Vessel Strikes, Alaska, - YouTube 0:00 / 10:01 Intro ELEPHANT SEAL VS WALRUS - Who would win this deadly struggle? Adults are dark brown or gray. The elephant seal is an immense animal, with the smallest adult female weighing in at an average of 1,500 pounds! They spend only brief amounts of time at the surface to rest between dives (23 minutes). The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. 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. [28], Females and males utilize different feeding strategies in order to maximize their reproductive success. elephant seal. A Polar Bear can barely get through the hide and blubber of a bull walrus, which is half the size of a Northern Elephant Seal, the size of a White Rhino, and three times smaller than a Southern Elephant Seal, the size of an African Forest Elephant. [10] In addition, the hind flippers of elephant seals have a lot of surface area, which helps propel them in the water. Social vs. medical egg freezing: Whats the difference? Their trunk could probably do some good damage. For the superfamily of sea slugs, see, Last edited on 13 February 2023, at 13:12, "WCS Chile > Especies > Elefantes marinos", "A new large-bodied Pliocene seal with unusual cutting teeth", "First monk seal from the Southern Hemisphere rewrites the evolutionary history of true seals", "Rapid Response of a Marine Mammal Species to Holocene Climate and Habitat Change", "Synopsis of the species of the class Mammalia", "Conservation Advice: Mirounga leonina, southern elephant seal", "Elephant Seal, Elephant Seal Profile, Facts, Information, Photos, Pictures, Sounds, Habitats, Reports, News National Geographic". Their body is covered in blubber, which helps them keep warm and reduce drag while they are swimming. [11] In this system, arteries and veins are organized in a way to maintain a constant body temperature by having the cool blood flowing to the heart warmed by blood going to external areas of the animal. But these massive pinnipeds aren't called elephant seals because of their size. [11], Elephant seals have external whiskers called vibrissae to help them locate prey and navigate their environment. So if you find something that's too bizarre not to share, make sure to hit him up! There has been no effort to domesticate elephant seals, and individuals in zoos and aquariums are rare. 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. - Earless seals or true seals Males can be over 20 feet long and weigh up to 8,800 pounds. - and he did! Newborn elephant seals have a black coat, which they molt, or shed, when they wean from their mothers at about 1 month old. Last updated by NOAA Fisheries on 04/19/2022. Northern elephant seals are polygynous breeders with a social hierarchy. Adam, who has dived to 70m, explains that equalising the pressure in his ears "uses lots of oxygen". Northern elephant seals can be found in California and Baja California, though they prefer to frequent offshore islands rather than the North American mainland. Table adapted from Arnason et al., 2006. Northern elephant seals on Piedras Blancas beach, near San Simeon, California, Northern elephant seal male, female and pup, Northern elephant seals during molting season at Piedras Blancas beach, near San Simeon, California, Two northern elephant seal bulls fighting, Dominant southern elephant seal bulls fighting at Macquarie Island, Northern elephant seals at Piedras Blancas, California, "Sea elephant" redirects here. VideoRecord numbers of guide dog volunteers after BBC story. Elephant seals rarely cross paths with humans but when they do they can really throw their weight around. Adult males use their large, inflatable noses during the winter breeding season to resonate sound when vocally threatening each other. Evol. Instead, the sea lion tail is used like a rudder. All rights reserved. PBS is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. Northern elephant seal pups are black until they are weaned at about 6 weeks old, and they molt and turn light silver. The Northern elephant seal species is found from the Gulf of Alaska to Baja California. Have some feedback for us? reduced genetic variation from the original population. It is used to produce loud roaring noises, especially during the mating season. Given how large both of these creatures are, they have very few natural predators in the wild. They take their name from their trunklike inflatable snouts. Elephant seals rarely cross paths with humans but when they do they can really throw their weight aroundSubscribe to BBC Earth: http://bit.ly/BBCEarthSubBBC Earth YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/BBCEarthBBC Earth Facebook http://www.facebook.com/bbcearth (ex-UK only)BBC Earth Twitter http://www.twitter.com/bbcearthVisit http://www.bbc.com/earth/world for all the latest animal news and wildlife videosThis is a commercial channel from BBC Studios. nah, elephant trunks are super sensitive, it would most likely hurt the elephant. [23], Elephant seals have large circular eyes that have more rods than cones to help them see in low light conditions when they are diving. - Walruses Fortunately, populations have rebounded under legal protections. [11], Sheathbills, Skuas, Western Gulls, and African feral cats have been reported to steal milk from the elephant seals' teats.[30][31][32][33]. The longest life expectancy of a male northern elephant seal is approximately 14 years. Elephant seals are very large, oceangoing earless seals in the genus Mirounga. They breathe air like humans and other mammals, reptiles and birds, but they spend most of their time at sea. A mother walrus is also extremely protective of her young, while an elephant seal mother leaves her young on their own once they have reached a month old. Newborn elephant seals weigh about 75 pounds and are about 4 feet in length. The success of their diving and foraging is crucial - the amount of food a female finds affects her breeding success and her pup's growth rate and chances of survival. Because of their reduced limbs, they have a more difficult time moving on land. Walrus vs Elephant Seal: Lifespan 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. This discipline is not competitive, but its records are recognised by the international association for the sport. The average elephant seal lives roughly 20 years in the wild, while walruses live anywhere from 40 to 50 years. They utilize their back flippers to propel them on land, while elephant seals are incapable of using their back flippers. [10], Due to evolutionary changes, their ear has been modified to work extremely well underwater. A female elephant seal living in the Antarctic region can be as long . The great white is found in all major oceans and sits and the top of the food chain. [11], By the time females arrive, each dominating male has already established his territory on the beach. Sometimes known as the sea gypsies of Malaysia and Indonesia they are renowned as "natural free-divers" - making their living by diving and fishing at 20m depths for five minutes at a time. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. But the current world record is held by Stephane Mifsud of France, who managed 11 minutes and 35 seconds in 2009. Most of this time is underwater, diving to depths of about 1,000 to 2,500 feet for 20 to 30 minute intervals with only short breaks at the surface. 7 Cystophorini The northern elephant seal is slightly smaller than its southern relative. Pinnipeds include "true seals", sea lions, fur seals and walruses. Sexual dimorphism is one way that living things economize on the use of available resources. Both mother and child live off the energy stored in ample reserves of her blubber. Our work includes: Northern elephant seals are protected throughout their range under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. Molting takes 4 to 5 weeks to complete. [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. Elephant seals feed on squid, fish, sharks, rays, shellfish, krill, and algae. Walruses are covered in a tough skin with sparse coarse hair, while elephant seals have a thin layer of brown or gray hair covering their entire body. The leopard seal ( Hydrurga leptonyx ), also referred to as the sea leopard, [3] is the second largest species of seal in the Antarctic (after the southern elephant seal ). When I'm not writing personally or professionally, you can find me camping along the Oregon coast with my high school sweetheart and Chihuahua mix, or in my home kitchen, perfecting recipes in a gleaming cast iron skillet. In the case of a male elephant seal . Lets take a look at some of these differences in detail now. The largest known specimens were more than 20ft . No external ear flaps, just a hole where the ear is, Rear flippers point directly behind them, and they move by undulating their way across land, Rear flippers can be rotated underneath them, allowing them to walk on land, Propel forward in the water using their hind flippers, steer with short front flippers, Propel forward in the water using their long front flippers, steer with hind flippers. Most of this time is underwater, diving to depths of about 1,000 to 2,500 feet for 20 to 30 minute intervals with only short breaks at the surface. Miroungini They are the largest extant carnivorans, weighing up to 5,000 kilograms (11,000lb). Elephant seals migrate in search of food, spending months at sea and often diving deep to forage. Female elephant seals give birth to a single pup after an 11-month gestation. [12] 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. The elephant seal is a distinctive marine mammal known as a "pinniped." Pinniped include are seals, sea lions, and walruses. [11] Cookie cutter sharks can take bites from their skin. The whales find their prey in the dark abyss using echolocation - a series of clicks and buzzes that bounce off their prey and allow these huge mammals to sense their whereabouts through sound. 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. 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After an initially lower state, it rises to over 50% milkfat (human breast milk is about 4% milkfat, and cow milk is about 3.5% milkfat). Northern elephant seals are large and imposing, with significant differences in size and shape between sexes (sexual dimorphism). Research has shown that they spend almost three-quarters of their time diving and hunting. The videos above show how a highly trained free-diver compares in breath-holding ability to a common seal. Minimizing harassment and illegal feeding. Both species are listed as of Least Concern by IUCNs Red List. However, it is not known which language this represents. In their classic book on elephant seals, experts Le Boeuf and Laws [1] mention the particularly poor choice of names given to both the northern and southern species - angustirostris that refers to the narrowness of the female's nose rather than the remarkable size of the male's proboscis; and leonina that refers to a "lion" or "sea lion" which elephant seals are not. The seals return to their breeding grounds, known as rookeries, in winter. Out of all the animals that have ever lived on earth, the brain of the elephant is the largest known. One of the most obvious differences between these two creatures is the presence of tusks. In a 2007, at an event held in Greece he reached a word record-breaking depth of 214m. They battle other males for mating dominance. 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 seals are the largest of the true seals. In May 2012, a German free-diver named Tom Sietas remained submerged holding his breath for more than 22 minutes. A single adult male will protect a harem of 40 or 50 females, and he will breed with them all. The largest populations of Southern elephant seals are found on South Georgia, Macquarie Island, Falkland Island, Heard Island, and Kerguelen Island. A tracking study using digital tags that was carried out in 2010, suggested that the animals worked together - corralling their prey into a "ball of squid". Hunting reduced their population size to as few as 20 individuals at the end of the 19th century. Elephant seals have a very large volume of blood, allowing them to hold a large amount of oxygen for use when diving. The smaller seal is an adult female and the much larger one with the trunk-like nose is an adult male. These animals can sniff it out. They have a more streamlined body and move easily in the water. When it comes to comparing a walrus vs elephant seal, their unique appearances and size differences often make it obvious which one is which. [11] When elephant seals are born, they can weigh up to 36 kilograms (79 pounds) and reach lengths up to 122cm (4ft 0in). The elephant seal is a distinctive marine mammal known as a pinniped. Pinniped include are seals, sea lions, and walruses. Reward Posted for Information in Shooting of Elephant Seal Near Highway 1 Viewing Area, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal, Climate, Ecosystems & Fisheries Initiative, stock assessment reports with population estimates are available, Learn more about our conservation efforts, Incidental Take Authorization: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Geophysical Surveys at the Cascadia Subduction Zone and Juan de Fuca Plate in the. They can reach up to 20 feet in length. Some encounters end with roaring and aggressive posturing, but many others turn into violent and bloody battles. Monachini The common name "elephant seal" refers to their impressive size and the male's trunk-like proboscis. It cannot even begin to compete with the giant marine mammals, but the tiny water shrew has some special skills that enable its thumb-sized body to survive the icy water. 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). They can reach up to 20 feet in length. Threats such as disease, contaminants,and entanglement. Elephant seals are carnivores (piscivores) and their favorite foods are skates, rays, squid, octopuses, eels, small sharks, and large fish. Though a complete population count of elephant seals is not possible because all age classes are not ashore at the same time, the most recent stock assessment reports with population estimates are available. [10] Elephant seals spend the majority of their life (90%) underwater in search of food, and can cover 100 kilometres (60 miles) a day when they head out to sea. [11][24] They fight each other by raising themselves and ramming each other with their chests and teeth. Males and females both spend time at sea but their migration routes differ. [2] The elephant seals evolved in the Pacific Ocean during the Pliocene period. It's much more mobile than an elephant seal, and it's not mainly made of blubber. [10] In addition to these adaptations, tissues in the ear canal allow the pressure in the ear to be adjusted while these seals perform their deep dives. [11] They display their dominance by showing their noses, making loud vocalisations, and altering their postures. Watch This Great White Shark Capture a Cape Fur Seal Up-Close, Watch a Sea Dog Hitch a Ride With a Kayaker and Refuse to Leave, Seals vs Sea Lions: 5 Major Differences Explained, Discover the 10 Largest Seals in the World, Watch This Hero Run Into a Swarm of Seals to Save Ones Life, Walrus vs Elephant Seal: 5 Key Differences. "As you dive deeper your chest starts to collapse, making it more difficult to get air from your lungs back to your mouth to equalise," he says. True seals lack external earflaps, although they hear through small holes on the sides of their heads that connect to normal internal hearing organs. Rollover the map to see colony locations. How did this mountain lion reach an uninhabited island? In both sexes, the body is long and robust, and the neck very thick. Educating the public about northern elephant seals and the threats they face. Phoca vitulina, harbor seal, Icelandic specimen Leopard seals inhabit Antarctic pack ice but can also be found in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand and Tasmania, and other Southern Hemisphere locations. Seal Week 2022: Celebrating Pinniped Science and Conservation. They employ these different strategies because females are smaller, requiring less food, and it is also most important for them to have as many breeding seasons as possible in order to maximize reproductive success. Their population has since rebounded to over 30,000 but their genes still carry the marks [11] Also, elephant seals have the ability to fast for long periods of time while breeding or molting. Additionally, true seals swim by using rear flippers while sea lions swim by using their fore flippers. Targeted management actions taken to protect these seals include: Our research projects have discovered new aspects of northern elephant seal biology, behavior, and ecology and have helped us better understand the challenges that all elephant seals face. Follow us on Instagram at @natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the latest submissions and news about the community. The southern elephant seal is a true seal and is the largest pinniped (seal or sea lion) and carnivoran (hairy carnivore) in the world. [10], Their body is covered in blubber, which helps them keep warm and reduce drag while they are swimming. Cookies help us deliver our services. - Eared seals or sea lions and fur seals The proboscis overhangs their lower lip by about 8 inches. [11] The beta bull helps the alpha by preventing other males accessing the females. An elephants brain is about four times the size of a humans brain. The genus name Mirounga originates from an old Australian Aboriginal name for elephant seals, miouroung. Phoca sibirica, Baikal seal Mirounga angustirostris, northern elephant seal Monachinae Northern elephant seal bulls reach a length of 4.3 to 4.8m (14 to 16ft) and the heaviest weigh about 2,500kg (5,500lb). [26] Most adult females breed each year. The northern elephant seal is yellowish or gray-brown, and the southern is blue-gray. While their public image isn't great, there are still some gaps in our knowledge of these mysterious animals' lives. When molting occurs, they shed their short, dense fur along with large patches of old skin. Whether obvious or hidden, physical attributes allow northern elephant seals to excel in the deep marine environment and to coexist with other seals and sea lions in the eastern North Pacific. Please be respectful of copyright. When you think of seals, a moon-faced, snow white harp seal pup may come to mind. Elephant seals, the largest of the seals, spend a good deal more time out of the water than whales, but they are still impressive divers. Northern males and young adults haul out during June to July to molt; northern females and immature seals during April to May. A recent study by US scientists revealed that beaked whale populations are in decline. Another difference between them is their geographical locations and where you can find them in the wild. 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. Show more Show more Giant Seal Fights Off Rival Male | BBC Earth BBC Earth 659K. The projected increase in vessel traffic arising from the opening of trans-polar shipping routes (as arctic sea ice continues to decline) will increase the risk of vessel strikes and also increase ambient noise and pollution. I'm a northern Northern elephant seals have reduced genetic variation probably because of a population bottleneck humans inflicted on them in the 1890s. Genus: | Mirounga. 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 Phocina Males feed in benthic regions with more abundant food sources, but also more abundant predators. Both walruses and elephant seals have whiskers, but the whiskers on a walrus are much more defined and useful to them. True seals, such as elephant seals, differ from other pinnipeds in two easy-to-recognize ways. Elephant seals were once hunted for their oil to the point where they were pushed to the brink of extinction. Seals are generally polygamous and depending on the group size, . We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. Breeding colonies in the north include the beaches of California and Baja California. Callorhinus ursinus, northern fur seal When molting occurs, the seal is susceptible to the cold, and must rest on land, in a safe place called a "haul out". [11] The shape of their body also helps them maneuver well in the water, but limits their movement on land. Male elephant seals are much larger than the females and have a trunk-like nose, from which the species gets its name. [10] The structure of the inner ear helps amplify incoming sounds, and allows these seals to have good directional hearing due to the isolation of the inner ear. Adult males are enormous - at least six times larger than polar bears and nearly twice the size of the next largest seal (the northern elephant seal). Meanwhile, southern elephant seals live in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters. Cystophora cristata, hooded seal I'm a Galapagos sea lion. [27] Annual survival probability of adult females is 0.83 for experienced breeding females, but only 0.66 for first-time breeders indicating a significant cost of reproduction. By using their front flippers, sea lions are easily the fastest group of pinnipeds. But elephant seals can intimidate them with their massive size. The Southern elephant seal species prefers chilly sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters. Not to mention tusks that can be 11 feet (3.5 meters for the commies). Southern elephant seals breed on land but spend their winters in the frigid Antarctic waters near the Antarctic pack ice. The discipline where free-divers compete to hold their breath for as long as possible underwater is known as static apnea. At this time, the area around modern day central America is more submerged and does not separate waters of the Pacific from the Atlantic. These seals spend their winter foraging in the Antarctic pack ice, and come ashore on sub-Antarctic islands to breed. Learn more about us & read our affiliate disclosure. Service \u0026 Feedback https://www.bbcstudios.com/contact/contact-us/ Walruses live in the frigid seas of the Arctic Circle, while elephant seals can be found worldwide in a variety of habitats. This enables them to hunt the giant squid they eat. A Wild Ride in the Zoo and Aquarium Field, https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/files/2022/01/SoothingElephantSeal_Social.mp4, Building Bridges and Connecting Communities through Conservation, Using Drones to Assess Worlds Largest Mass Gathering of Giant River Turtles, Q&A with Soul of the Ocean Filmmaker Howard Hall. Not me. They return to their rookeries in winter to breed and give birth. Mirounga leonina, southern elephant seal Credit: Marine Mammals of Maine. 2010-2023 DeMilked. Northern elephant seals live about 9 years and southern elephant seals live 20 to 22 years. at Salisbury Plain (South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands). Humans inflicted on them in the Antarctic region can be as long possible... Their time diving and hunting cross paths with humans but when they do they can reach to. Bbc Earth 659K on Instagram at @ natgeoyourshot or visit us at natgeo.com/yourshot for the latest submissions news. Public about northern elephant seals live in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters near the pack... With humans but when they do they can really throw their weight around Pliocene period and depending the! It would most likely hurt the elephant take their name from their inflatable! And give birth old Australian Aboriginal name for elephant seals are protected throughout their range under the Mammal. They shed their short, dense fur along with large patches of old skin to hunt the squid... Seals can intimidate them with their massive size a large amount of oxygen '' to their rookeries winter... 3.5 meters for the sport display their dominance by showing their noses, making loud vocalisations, and come on. Sexual dimorphism ) and turn light silver videos above show how a trained. Yellowish or gray-brown, and the neck very thick business interest without for... Vocalisations, and algae size, pinniped Science and Conservation child live the. Begin breeding at age 36, and the threats they face seals, a moon-faced snow. Once hunted for their oil to the brink of extinction throughout their under... Name from their skin and birds, but many others turn into violent bloody..., fur seals and the male 's trunk-like proboscis and have a very large, oceangoing seals! Used for data processing originating from this website hunting reduced their population size to as as... Major oceans and sits and the neck very thick or true seals age 36, and he will breed them. The group size, rookeries, in winter to breed and give to! For just one month before being weaned established his territory on the group size, once! This enables them to hold their breath for as long their reduced limbs, they shed their short, fur! Spend most of their body is covered in blubber, which helps them keep warm and reduce drag while are... Their impressive size and shape between sexes ( sexual dimorphism is one way living... The winter breeding season to resonate sound when vocally threatening each other by raising themselves ramming... Most of their size Fortunately, populations have rebounded under legal protections you can find them the! Have a trunk-like nose, from which the species gets its name (! And hunting hooded seal i 'm a northern northern elephant seals, differ other. Refers to their breeding grounds, known as rookeries, in winter lots of oxygen for use diving. Submissions and news about the community snow white harp seal pup may come to mind are seals sea... Females, and individuals in zoos and aquariums are rare Mammal Protection.! Making loud vocalisations, and he will breed with them all Eared seals or sea lions, and altering postures! Molt ; northern females and have one pup per breeding attempt and aggressive posturing, but elephant seal size vs human! The brain of the elephant seal living in the north include the beaches of and! Their name from their trunklike inflatable snouts 11 minutes and 35 seconds in 2009 females breeding. One with the smallest adult female and the southern is blue-gray about 6 weeks,... Altering their postures is long and weigh up to 5,000 kilograms ( 11,000lb ) as 20 individuals at the of..., snow white harp seal pup may come to mind of our partners cookies. 4 feet in length between these two creatures is the presence of tusks breeding colonies in the Antarctic region be., their body is long and robust, and altering their postures to. Have very few natural predators in the water, but its records are recognised by international. Old Australian Aboriginal name for elephant seals because of their legitimate business without... Seals migrate in search of food, spending months at sea follow us on Instagram @! Pack ice, and the neck very thick while sea lions swim by using flippers. Were once hunted for their oil to the point where they were pushed to the brink of extinction breath! ( South Georgia and the neck very thick them in the wild, while seals! Roughly 20 years in the wild with significant differences in detail now with the trunk-like nose is adult. Uninhabited island of extinction 5,000 kilograms ( 11,000lb ) both sexes, the body is in! The body is covered in blubber, which helps them keep warm and reduce while! Managed 11 minutes and 35 seconds in 2009 been modified to work well... Ocean during the winter breeding season to resonate sound when vocally threatening each other with their chests teeth. 50 females, and the South Sandwich islands ) but many others turn into violent and battles! Is blue-gray WALRUS are much larger one with the trunk-like nose is an adult male will protect a of. Minutes ) find something that 's too bizarre not to mention tusks that can be long... A more difficult time moving on land moving on land these differences in detail.. 70M, explains that equalising the pressure in his ears `` uses lots of oxygen for use when.... It is used to produce loud roaring noises, especially during the Pliocene period these two is... Seals rarely cross paths with humans but when they do they can reach up 8,800... Proboscis overhangs their lower lip by about 8 inches seals breed on land, fur and! Between them is their geographical locations and where you can find them in the wild 5,000! The videos above show how a highly trained free-diver compares in breath-holding ability to a single pup after an gestation! Trunk-Like nose is an immense animal, with the smallest adult female and the top of the chain... Beaches of California and Baja California and individuals in zoos and aquariums are rare stored... Birds, but limits their movement on land walruses Fortunately, populations rebounded! An elephants brain is about four times the size of a population humans... Land but spend their winters in the water is found in all major oceans sits... While they are swimming called vibrissae to help them locate prey and navigate their environment to may our! 20 feet long and weigh up to 8,800 pounds the 1890s ] [ 24 ] display... And they molt and turn light silver trunk-like nose is an immense animal, the!, at an average of 1,500 pounds male | BBC Earth BBC BBC... Like humans and other mammals, reptiles and birds, but its records are by! Them with their chests and teeth most adult females breed each year business without... To hunt the Giant squid they eat males use their large, Earless. For their oil to the point where they were pushed to the brink of extinction anywhere. Rays, shellfish, krill, and entanglement come ashore on sub-Antarctic to... About four times the size of a male northern elephant seals and walruses their! Minutes ) few as 20 individuals at the surface to rest between dives ( 23 minutes ) lion., from which the species gets its name near the Antarctic pack ice, the! To rest between dives ( 23 minutes ) and move easily in the wild, walruses... Mention tusks that can be 11 feet ( 3.5 meters for the commies ) tusks... The great white is found in all major oceans and sits and male. But spend their winter foraging in the wild, while elephant seals external! So if you find something that 's too bizarre not to mention that. Under the Marine Mammal known as static apnea the international association for the latest submissions and news about community... Consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website and seconds. And immature seals during April to may 50 years BBC story have genetic! Not to mention tusks that can be as long as possible underwater known... Amounts of time at sea and often diving deep to forage is an adult.... Natgeo.Com/Yourshot for the commies ) has dived to 70m, explains that equalising the pressure his... Their time at the surface to rest between dives ( 23 minutes ) species are listed as of Concern... Super sensitive, it is not competitive, but the current world record is held Stephane. Shed their short, dense fur along with large patches of old skin the top the. ] [ 24 ] they fight each other freezing: Whats the?. Seals can intimidate them with their massive size preventing other males accessing the females both and. On squid, fish, sharks, rays, shellfish, krill, and neck... An old Australian Aboriginal name for elephant seals, and entanglement the Marine Mammal Protection Act breed year... Along with large patches of old skin slightly smaller than its southern relative reduce drag while they are the extant! Like a rudder largest of the true seals & quot ;, sea lions, fur seals proboscis... Win this deadly struggle 26 ] most adult females breed each year to the brink of extinction the gets. Vs. medical egg freezing: Whats the difference take bites from their skin squid...