Meet the northern elephant seal Like all true seals (phocids), the elephant seal lacks external ear flaps and crawls on land with rhythmic belly flops. The chest shield, proboscis, and certain areas of the face are often pink. Much more agile in their ocean environment, an elephant seal moves on land with considerable effort, by using its front flippers and belly. They are also wide and very dark which works to their advantage when it comes time to find their prey. Pups and adults can be attacked by orca whales. They nurse their one pup four the first month of life before they go in search of food for themselves. At this time females will mate with one or more of the dominant males and then return to sea. Studies have shown that all individuals of the current population, which has grown to over 170,000, are relatives of these few survivors. Due to its large and increasing population, expanding range and lack of foreseeable threats, the northern elephant seal is classified as Least Concern. This impressive pinniped relies upon the Channel Islands National Park as an important part of its life cycle. Several days after coming onto the beaches, the females give birth to the pups they have been carrying since last year. Adult males may grow to over 13 feet in length and weigh up to 5,000 pounds while females are smaller, growing up to 10 feet and weighing up to 1,700 pounds. They are very large and the males have what is similar to an elephant’s trunk on their face yet it is very short. These seals can dive very deep into the ocean, one was recorded to reach 5,788 feet! While on land, northern elephant seals prefer sandy, rocky, or muddy coastline, particularly on offshore islands. Male seals can weigh up to 4.5 tons. The males are extremely competitive when it is time for mating. 3, Based upon a 2009 assessment, the current population is 170,000 and is growing. In 2005, 42,589 pups were counted, an increase of 14,699 (53%) over the number observed in 1991. When northern elephant seals come on shore to breed, the females will fast while mating and suckling their pups. Populations of northern elephant seals in the U.S. and Mexico are derived from a few hundred individuals. 8) The Northern Elephant seal was thought to be extinct in the 1800’s however, from a small group of animals left, there are now an estimated population of 150,000 which live mainly around the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. They are very large and the males have what is similar to an elephant’s trunk on their face yet it is very short. 3, As stated by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species, the northern elephant seal has recovered from near extinction and population growth and is expected to continue over the coming decades. These seals range in … The seals inhabit gravel or sandy beaches, far away from human activity, as their preferred places for breeding. It is surpassed only by its relative the southern elephant seal. Elephant seals belong to the group of true seals. Northern Elephant Seal Facts Most notably, the enormous Northern Elephant Seal represents one of only two species of elephant seal. Appearance The northern elephant seal is yellowish or gray-brown, and the southern is blue-gray. As summer moves in they will molt so they have to stay on land for up to a month. Northern elephant seals are not presently endangered. Northern elephant seals are found in the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of Alaska down to Baja California. During the breeding season, they live on beaches on offshore islands and a few remote spots on the mainland. Introduction The other 90% is spent in the water, diving and foraging for food, with only 11% of this time spent at the surface. One male can earn the right to mate with 30 to 100 females in the group. Race Rocks is the most northerly breeding area on the Pacific Coast, at the southern end of Vancouver Island's Strait of Juan de Fuca. Within a year, the coat will turn silvery brown. The southern elephant seal is not endangered, and its conservation status is ‘Least Concern’. The length is measured at 4 feet. The females are much smaller when it comes to weight with only about 2,000 pounds. The Northern elephant seal inhabits the Pacific coast of Mexico, the U.S. and Canada. This tends to occur more often in captivity than in the wild though and it is believed to be due to conditions presented by human interactions. Elephant seal inhabits warm coastal waters … As compare to other seals, they are much larger in size. Learn More. During that period of time they will live off the fat on their bodies. The largest colonies of northern elephant seals are found off southern California in the Channel Islands. Mature adult males have an unmistakable large and fleshy appendage on their snout called a proboscis. Great white sharks and killer whales prey on northern elephant seals. In contrast, eared seals (otariidae), like sea lions, have visible ears and hind flippers that turn underneath their bodies for “walking.” Male elephant seals can be easily identified by their large proboscis, which resembles an elephant’s trunk (and is the source of their name). Southern elephant seals are massive animals. They are shorter too at only 12 feet. They tend to eat much more as summer approaches to build up their fat reserves. It is also the only mammal known to undertake two migratory journeys annually. The breeding season occurs from December through March. The population bottleneck that occurred during this time is of concern because genetic variation is reduced, creating the possibility for the population to be vulnerable to disease or reproductive failure. They are known to migrate from one area to the next too. They spend the rest of their time mostly underwater, hunting squids and fishes. In 1978, 872 were born there. Fun Facts Elephant seals take their name from the large proboscis of the adult male (bull), which resembles an elephant’s trunk. The number of Northern Elephant Seals is very low due to being hunted by humans. Not only are they the biggest species of seal, but they … Northern elephant seals are in the family Phocidae, the true seals. Each year, elephant seals molt the skin and fur above the blubber. The Northern Elephant Seal is smaller than those from the Southern part of the world. They typically aggregate in large groups while on land. Range They dive to depths of 300-800 meters and dives can last up to 2 hours. Pups are nursed for about a month and can gain as much as 360 pounds in that time. The species eat squid, octopus, Pacific hake and other boney fishes, various cartilaginous fishes, and jawless fishes. The species eat squid, octopus, Pacific hake and other boney fishes, various cartilaginous fishes, and jawless fishes. Q1. The population bottleneck that occurred during this time is of concern because genetic variation is reduced, creating the possibility for the population to be vulnerable to disease or reproductive failure. Southern elephant seals can travel up to 33,800 km (21,000 miles) per year, the longest known migration for any mammal. Northern elephant seals are not presently endangered. They were presumed extinct by the 1880's, after being exploited by hunters and whalers seeking to use the animals' thick layer of blubber as an oil source. Elephant seals are the only known animals capable of filling collapsed lungs. Pups are born with a woolly black lanugo (downy hair) that is shed at about 3 weeks of age to reveal a silver-grey coat, similar to that of adults at about the time of weaning (28 days). Females soon arrive and associate with dominant males. Total population size increased at a rate of 3% from 1991 to 2005. This small group managed to maintain a foothold in Mexico, despite the fact that by the end of the 1800's they were nearly hunted to extinction for their blubber. Female elephant seals who have lost their own pups sometimes adopt orphaned pups. At one time, however, this species was thought to have been hunted to extinction. Facts. During this time, dominant males will often inflate their noses and produce a noise that sounds like a drum to warn lesser males away. What exactly do elephant seals do during those epic dives? The average lifespan of a southern elephant seal is 20 to 22 years, while the lifespan of a northern elephant seal is about 9 years. The northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris)! Females occasionally have twins but if so one will be left to die. Adult males use their large, inflatable noses during the winter breeding season to resonate sound when vocally threatening each other. They are carnivores living on a diet of squid , fish , rays , penguins , and some small species of sharks . Males of both species attain a length of approximately 6.5 metres (21 feet) and a weight of about 3,530 kg (7,780 pounds) and are much larger than the females, which grow to 3.5 metres and weigh 900 kg. Southern Elephant Seal Facts For Kids: Questions. It is surpassed only by its relative the southern elephant seal. It takes from 10 to 12 months from conception until the pups are born. The southern elephant seal is found in the Southern Hemisphere on islands such as South Georgia and Macquarie Island, and on the coasts of New Zealand, South Africa, and Argentina in the Peninsula Valdés. Males journey north to the Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska, whereas females travel further west to the open ocean. At one time there were less than 1,000 Northern Elephant Seals out there. San Miguel, Santa Barbara, and Santa Rosa islands all provide critical habitat. Northern elephant seals are large and imposing, with significant differences in size and shape between sexes (sexual dimorphism). Males can impregnate up to 50 females in one season. Northern elephant seals are exceptional divers.—sometimes diving deeper than 4900 feet and remaining submerged for 1-2 hours. Sexual dimorphism is spotted on this animal because the female usually has the weight 10 times less than the male the counterpart. Its population is thought to be stable. The northern elephant seal is the second largest seal in the world, after the southern elephant seal. It belongs to the family of true (earless) seals. That was in the 1970’s but now there are almost 100,000 of them. Their lungs collapse during dives. For the next two months, weaned pups, called "weaners","remain on rookery beaches, venturing into the water for short periods of time, perfecting their swimming and feeding abilities. They can also reach up to 14 feet in length. Males journey north to the Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska, whereas females travel further west to the open ocean. Another common problem with them is that they are highly susceptible to disease and viruses. Many bulls become pale in the face, proboscis, and head with increasing age. During this time, they survive only off of stored blubber (fat) and won't eat for up to five weeks. 2, Feeding More than half off all the males in a given group will never mate. The pups nurse for about 28 days, generally gaining about 10 pounds a day. In both sexes, the body is long and robust, and the neck very thick. About The Species. The total linear distance migrated by these animals each year has been recorded at 12,800 miles. A few animals were then discovered in 1892 which were captured and killed for scientific study. Males do not feed during breeding season. 1, 7. Northern elephant seals are exceptional divers.—sometimes diving deeper than 4900 feet and remaining submerged for 1-2 hours. Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) Elephant seals are found occasionally in Oregon either resting or molting (shedding their hair) on sandy beaches. Today, there are approximately 160,000 northern elephant seals. Southern elephant seal pups are prey for sharks, leopard seals, and sea lions. Males journey north to the Aleutian Islands and the Gulf of Alaska, whereas females travel further west … While on land, northern elephant seals prefer sandy, rocky, or muddy coastline, particularly on offshore islands. 3, Reproduction Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) can be found in California and Baja California, though they prefer to frequent offshore islands rather than the North American mainland. Northern elephant seals are found in the North Pacific, from Baja California, Mexico to the Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands. Elephant seals were hunted to the brink of extinction by the end of the 19th century. Like its counterpart, the Southern Seal, it draws its common name from not one, but two sources. Elephant seals live for just two months of the year on land. The average lifespan of a northern elephant seal is nine years while an elephant seal living in the Antarctic region can live from 20 to 22 years. You will hear extremely deep and loud roaring sounds coming from the males when it is time to mate. During their foraging migrations, they dive into the water repeatedly and continuously to find food, never stopping to rest or sleep for months at a time. President-elect Joe Biden announced some economic priorities on Friday, but Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.) The females are much smaller when it comes to weight with only about 2,000 pounds. Northern elephant seals are found in the coastal waters of the Pacific Ocean from the Gulf of Alaska down to Baja California. A few animals were then discovered in 1892 which were captured and killed for scientific study. Adult males may grow to over 13 feet in length and weigh up to 5,000 pounds while females are smaller, growing up to 10 feet and weighing up to 1,700 pounds. Male elephant seals can be easily identified by their large proboscis, which resembles an elephant’s trunk (and is the source of their name). These animals spend only 10% of their time on land, returning to reproduce and molt. Since that time, elephant seals have continued to multiply exponentially, and they have extended their breeding range as far north as Point Reyes. For the next two months, weaned pups, called "weaners. Males feed near the eastern Aleutian Islands and in the Gulf of Alaska, and females feed further south, in the offshore waters of Washington and Oregon. Those males that are the most powerful will have a certain region that they cover. The total linear distance migrated by these animals each year has been recorded at 12,800 miles. 6. , is the second largest seal in the world. The males are very large with a weight of up to 5,000 pounds. Northern elephant seals spend most of the year, about 9 months, in the ocean and can only be seen on land during pupping season. During their foraging migrations, they dive into the water repeatedly and continuously to find food, never stopping to rest or sleep for months at a time. It is not known what makes some females stop in these areas of a bull while others move on to another location to find a different male that they are interested in. All that traveling adds up to a lot of time spent underwater, which would seem to provide ample opportunity to lose track of where they’re headed. The two species of elephant seals are southern elephant (Mirounga leonina) and northern elephant (Mirounga angustirostris) seals.Southern elephant seals are larger than the northern ones.. Northern Elephant Seals mostly eat squid. Northern elephant seals spend 90% of their lives in the water in order to feed. The males are very large with a weight of up to 5,000 pounds. Northern elephant seal skull on display at the Museum of Osteology, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 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 include squid, fish, octopus, and even small sharks. 2, Habitat The deepest dive recorded was over a mile. There continue to be environmental problems, including global warming that threatens the Northern Elephant Seal. There are two species of elephant seal: northern and southern (name refers to the hemisphere where they can be found). Grab some … About 100,000 northern elephant seals off the Pacific Coast today are all descendants of a single colony of fewer than 100 that survived the slaughter of 19th-Century hunters. Each winter elephant seals arrive at their breeding beaches in Mexico and California. Northern Elephant Seal. They typically aggregate in large groups while on land. Scientists have learned much about elephant seal behavior by using tracking devices, which record water temperature, light intensity, and swimming speed. These seals range in color from light gray to dark black. Males are the first to arrive, and they fight each other to establish dominance. The southern species has an extensive molting period in which considerable patches of hair and skin are shed. Males and females make separate biannual foraging migrations. Due to its unique body structure, this mammal is an excellent swimmer and diver. Some of them live where it is cold including Alaska while others prefer the warmer climate around Baja California. Pups weigh 75 pounds or more and are about four feet in length. Males feed near the eastern Aleutian Islands and in the Gulf of Alaska, and females feed further south, in the offshore waters of Washington and Oregon. The pups nurse for about 28 days, generally gaining about 10 pounds a day. 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