Adult females will return to California or Mexico, and go ashore between March and August to molt. But, they have made a comeback today. These seals group together in large colonies when they are on land. Elephant seals are the largest seals on the earth with two major species i.e. 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. They are very large and the males have what is similar to an elephant’s trunk on their face yet it is very short. Please do not attempt to approach what looks like an animal in distress. With over a 13,000 mile roundtrip migrations, they have one of the longest migrations of any animals. The first elephant seals on Año Nuevo Island were sighted in 1955, and the first pup was born there in 1961. The males are very large with a weight of up to 5,000 pounds. One Southern seal recorded diving at a depth of almost 7,000 feet! But, there have been instances where these sea mammals have gone even deeper. They use their large nose to makes sounds and vocally threatening other males. AND ONE NEARLY WENT EXTINCT. ; Females: 990–1,300 lb. Males frequently fight with each other. Today, there are approximately 160,000 northern elephant seals. 4 feet (1.25 m), Weight Northern elephant seals face threats such as entanglement in fishing gear, vessel strikes, marine debris, and disturbance while on shore. NOAA Fisheries - Northern Elephant SealNOAA Fisheries West Coast - Northern Elephant Seal. They have a social hierarchy based on the maleâs harems, which is the grouping of females. They spend 90% of the time in the water and dive deep into the sea to hunt for food. (Photo by Mark Sears, NOAA Permit 21348) Note: while COVID-19 Restrictions are in place, please visit Whale Trail sites close to home that don't require a ferry ride. Get involved! The U.S and Mexico stock of Northern elephant seals has survived and derived by the few hundred individuals not targeted during commercial sealing. Southern elephant seals are able to dive to over 4,921 feet (1,500 meters) and remain underwater for as long as two hours. The largest colonies are found off southern California and the Channel Islands. Characterized by extreme sexual dimorphism: males weigh 8-10 more than females. They lack external ear flaps and have smaller fore flippers than other pinnipeds. Elephant seal pups weigh around 75 pounds (34 kg) when they are born. Southern elephant seals are the largest seal species, followed by Northern seals. The Northern Elephant Seal Mirounga angustirostris. Elephant seals feed on fish and on squid or other cephalopods. Breeding primarily occurs on offshore islands of California and Mexico, such as the Channel Islands, and at rookeries on the central California coast. Northern elephant seals are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act and are not considered endangered or threatened. On average, the southern elephant seal tends to be larger than the northern species. Adult males may grow to over 13 feet (4 m) in length and weigh up to 4,500 pounds (2,000 kg). When they haul out for molting season they will stay there for a few weeks. Northern elephant seals are polygamous breeders, meaning during the mating season males establish a dominance over a large group of females. Male elephant seals reach 16 feet in length and weigh up to 4,000 pounds. 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. Learn More. Northern Elephant Seal Elephant seals have a sandy brown colored coat with no spots. Largest seal in the northern hemisphere. The northern elephant seal lives up to nine years, and the southern elephant seal lives between twenty to twenty-two years. The males are very large with a weight ⦠Female northern elephant seal. What do they do when they are away? During mating season, Northern elephant seals fast and can lose up to 36% of their body weight. But, there have been instances where these sea mammals have gone even deeper. Learn More. Found in the Antarctic, sub-Antarctic, and islands off the West coast of North America, these enormous ocean sea mammals were one endangered. ... in length and 4,000 to 5,000 pounds (1,400 to 2,300 kg) in weight. Elephant Seals (Mirounga leonina and Mirounga angustirostris) There are two species of elephant seal. Other places it is found include the coast of Argentina, New Zealand, and South Africa. Fish, molluscs, krill, crustaceans, squid and other sea life are usually on their menu. Pups are born black and will molt into a silver coat after 4-6 weeks, once they are weened. 1,300-2,000 (590kg- 907kg) The Whale Trail updated their cover photo. Males start to form harems around 9-10 years old and battle for status among the adult males. The biggest bull Northern elephant seals weigh about 5,000 pounds. The Whale Trail depends on your support. They usually dive to depths of between 1,000 and 2,500 feet. 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). They have the biggest weight difference between males and females of any animal species. The elephant seal is in the phocid, or true seal, family. The female will breed again before her pup leaves and she returns to the ocean. Weight 1,300-2,000 (590kg- 907kg) Length 7-12 feet (2.1-3.6 m) ADULT MALE FACTS. They usually dive to depths of between 1,000 and 2,500 feet. Follow Washington State Ferries for guidance about ferry travel. The biggest on record was nearly 11,000 pounds in weight. Length During this time, they survive only off of stored blubber (fat) and won't eat for up to five weeks. Their life span is about 14 years for males, 16 to 17 years for females. ... See MoreSee Less, Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on Linked InShare by Email, Good news for Orcas! Northern elephant seals spend most of the year, about 9 months, in the ocean and can only be seen on land during pupping season. In this species, males max out at around 13 feet long and 4500 pounds , ⦠Fun Facts for Kids. Males return slightly after females. 75 pounds (35 kg) Elephant seals are the only seals that molt and shed their outer layer of skin. In case you’re curious, the walrus is a close third behind the northern elephant seal when it comes to size. 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… Pups increase their birthweight by a factor of 3-7 times on mother's milk alone. Point Robinson was one of the first locations on The Whale Trail! The gestation period is around 11 months. Males can be over 20 feet long and weigh up to 8,800 pounds. 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