Friends of the Elephant Seal is a cooperating association with California State Parks. Females are smaller and weigh around 7 – 800 kg. Interesting Elephant seal Facts: Elephant seal can reach 10 to 20 feet in length and 2000 to 8800 pounds of weight. Weaners practice at night to learn to swim and dive in preparation for the dark of the ocean depths in which they will feed. Much more agile in their ocean environment, an elephant seal moves on land with considerable effort, by using its front flippers and belly. Elephant seals get their names from the appearance of mature males, who are not only enormous, but also develop pendulous, trunk-like noses. Most elephant seal rookeries are on islands, with the largest colonies on the Channel Islands. Elephant seals are shielded from cold by their blubber, much more than by … Elephant seals dive to 1,550 m (5,090 ft) beneath the ocean’s surface, though the average depth of their dives is about 300 to 600 m (980 to 1,970 ft), typically for around 20 minutes for females and 60 minutes for males. An adult female seal is called a cow . Most mortality occurs at sea. The dunes and other bluff areas outside the fences or ropes are home to protected native plants and animals. The molting process occurs on land, during which time the … Elephant seals like large sandy beaches that do not have a significant human presence. Elephants Facts for Kids. Elephant seals don't mind the cold water because their bodies are covered in thick skin and full of blubber. Each year, elephant seals molt the skin and fur above the blubber. The length is measured at 4 feet. The Piedras Blancas Rookery was populated from San Miguel Island, San Nicolas Island, and Ano Nuevo. Smallest seal is Galapagos fur seal that has 4 southern Elephant Seal Basics Weight: Males range 1,500 - 3,000 kg, up to 3,700 kg (8,150 lb,) / females average 350 - 600 kg.up to 800 kg (1,800 lb.) Also known as sea elephants, elephant seals (genus Mirounga) are large aquatic mammals residing in sub-Antarctic regions. Yes, there are always some elephant seals here, although they become very sparse by the end of summer. Therefore the Elephant seal is one of the largest members of the order Carnivora. Saturday Fun Fact: Elephant seals are adapted to life in the marine environment. Large body size, a large nose, and a deep booming voice can help a large male intimidate challengers and help them avoid energy-depleting fights. At the peak of the breeding season around 90% of the adult males have fresh wounds obtained from combat. Length: Males typically 4.5m - … Elephant Facts Elephant Seal Animal Quiz Animal Facts Fun Facts About Elephants Antartica Chilena Monterey Bay Aquarium Wal Weird Creatures Earless Seals (Phocidae Family - True Seals) Example #8: Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris). There may be as few as 10 and as many as 50 females surrounding an alpha male. Southern elephant seal males typically reaching a length of 5 m (16 ft) and a weight of 3,000 kg (6,600 lb), and are much larger than the adult females, with some exceptionally large males reaching up to 6 m (20 ft) in length and weighing 4,000 kg (8,800 lb); females typically measure about 3 m (10 ft) and 900 kg (2,000 lb). Elephant seals were hunted to the brink of extinction by the end of the 19th century. People frequently think the seals on the beach are dead because they aren’t moving or breathing. Six illuminating southern elephant seal facts. Northern elephant seal facts! Their bodies are designed to keep warm in cold water. Elephant seals spend up to 80% of their lives in the ocean. Less is known about feeding opportunities along the continental shelf where the other seals hunt for food. Southern Elephant Seal Video One of these adaptations is that during dives the flow of blood to their skin and extremities is limited – sending blood mostly to their brain and core organs. During the time they are ashore they are fasting. Click for even more facts & download the worksheets. The length is measured at 4 feet. 2. Males can weigh a whopping 3000kg and span over six metres long. 1) There are three different species of elephant – the African Savannah elephant, the African Forest elephant and the Asian elephant. Males are 5 to 6 time larger than females. Elephant seals are large seals that live in the ocean, of which there are two species, both of which were hunted almost to extinction by the close of the 19th century. See more ideas about elephant seal, elephant, sea lion. The maximum lifespan of male seals is 14 years; females may live to be over 20. Drones are not permitted in the rookery area. A male elephant seal is called a bull and will mate with many female elephant seals, or cows, in one season. The females are much smaller at about 9 to 12 feet (2.5 to 4 m) in length and weigh 900 … They spend most of their lives at sea foraging off the coast of Alaska in the Aleutian Islands. The elephant seal has a number of interesting and distinguishing characteristics. Your charitable contribution supports our programs. Elephant Seal Behaviour The elephant seal is a powerful swimmer and well adapted to an aquatic life. There is a thick blubber layer beneath the skin to insulate the animals in cold water. 5 Elephant Seal Facts • These seals spend approximately nine months of the year in the water. These animals are huge when compared with other pinnipeds. They spend only brief amounts of time at the surface to rest between dives (2–3 minutes). Northern elephant seal pups are black until they are weaned at about 6 weeks old, when they molt and turn light silver. Adult females are almost twice the size of males. Junk in the Trunk – Male elephant seals are significantlylarger than female eleph… The younger males, often seen sparring either on the beach or in the shallow waters offshore, are learning how to fight. The males use their big nose… The largest known bull elephant seal was 6.7 metres in length and weighed 3400 kilograms (about four tons). THEY MAINLY EAT SQUID. The neck and chest area of a large bull is protected by a thick layer of blubber and has scarred calloused skin. Males have an opening for the penis, between the navel indentation and their pelvis. The females are much smaller at about 9 to 12 feet (2.5 to 4 m) in length and weigh 900 to 1,800 pounds (400 to 800 kg). Southern elephant seals have a thick layer of blubber that sustains them during the breeding season as they do not feed during this time. They get their name … The lifespan of a female southern elephant seal is about 20 to 25 years while males In addition, they practice a form of apnea; a breath-holding state. Much more agile in their ocean environment, an elephant seal moves on land with considerable effort, by using its front flippers and belly. There are no trash cans. The elephant seal, like other mammals, must replace old skin and hair. Males may focus on bottom-dwelling skates, rays, squid, octopuses, eels, small sharks and large fish. If you witness someone harassing a marine animal, call 1.805.927.2068. Female elephant seals are smaller than males, growing to about nine feet long and 1,300 pounds. They all have streamlined bodies for moving through the water and four flippers. Eight individuals were sighted on the island and scientists killed Related Video . Interesting Elephant seal Facts: Elephant seal can reach 10 to 20 feet in length and 2000 to 8800 pounds of weight. Males enter puberty around 5 years of age, but they don’t reach their full size and maturity until they are around 9. A baby elephant is called a calf; A group of elephants is called a ‘herd’ Female elephants are referred to as ‘cows’ and males are called ‘bulls’. An adult male seal is called a bull. Also known as sea elephants, elephant seals (genus Mirounga) are large aquatic mammals residing in sub-Antarctic regions. The two species of elephant seals are southern elephant (Mirounga leonina) and northern elephant (Mirounga angustirostris) seals. About Elephant Seals Seals on the sand. Elephant seals may be rust, light or dark brown, or gray. It is illegal to touch, throw things or cause a reaction from any marine mammal. They have delayed implantation, which is why babies are born after 12 months even though the pregnancy itself does last for 9. Elephant seals belong to the group of true seals. Elephant seals are the largest seals, exceeding the walrus in size. (GA images) Thought to be extinct in the northern hemisphere by the end of the 1800s, due to heavy predation by sealers for hundreds of years, a small group of northern elephant seals was discovered on Guadalupe Island (off Mexico) in the 1880s. Most mammals shed hair year-round, but the elephant seal does it all at once. As the elephant seals rebounded from near-extinction, they first re-established colonies on the islands off the shore of Baja California and California. During the breeding season, bulls battle each other for the right to breed with the females. The Friends of the Elephant Seal does not share your personal information with outside advertisers or other organizations. The northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris)! They normally dive 1,000 to 2,000 feet but can go down as deep as 5,000 feet. Three species are currently recognised: the African bush elephant, the African forest elephant, and the Asian elephant. Northern elephant seal adult males and young adult males haul out during June to August to molt. They can hold their breath for more than 100 minutes – longer than any other non-cetacean mammal. Here's some other interesting and fun facts about southern elephant seals. In addition, they sometimes can be seen flipping sand under stressful conditions. Discover the world's biggest seal: where found, diet, predators and more. Fact 37: Common seals may spend We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Where Do Southern Their trunk-like nose serves two purposes: Males use the proboscis to generate loud roars to fend off other males, and both males and females use it to re-absorb moisture during their mating fasts. The adult southern … An Elephant seal pup weighs around 32 kg and nurses for about 26 days after birth. In the open ocean, where females spend almost all their time, there is evidence that they feed on small bio-luminescent creatures such as squid and lanternfish. Males can live to 14; females into their 20’s. Seal Facts For Kids - Complete Knowledge Dite, Species, Habitat, Size and Much More - Duration: 3:34. They spend most of their lives at sea foraging off the coast of Alaska in the Aleutian Islands. They can cover 60 miles a day when they head out to sea. There are viewing walkways at each end of the parking lot, which are part of the California Coastal Trail and are wheelchair accessible. In order to dive so deep and stay down in the cold ocean so long, the elephant seals have had to make a number of adaptations. They are very sociable animals and get their name from their massive size and the male’s trunk-like snout. Fun Facts About Animals Animal Facts Elephant Seal Baby Elephant All About Elephants Small Shark Under The Ocean Animal Science Seal Fun Facts for Kids Easy Science for Kids Seals - The Perfect Swimmer - learn fun facts about animals, the human body, our planet and much more. Their stomachs also often contain gastroliths. Their trunk-like nose serves two purposes: Males use the proboscis to generate loud roars to fend off other males, and both males and females use it to re-absorb moisture during their mating fasts. The rocky areas in the shallow waters provide the weaned pups some protection from breakers while they are learning to swim. Actually, they are just conserving energy. This is a “pack in- pack out” site. Sand flipping helps them keep cool on land by acting as a sunscreen. The number of females in a harem varies according to the topography of the beach. 1. The young Elephant seals are resting on the beach of Carcass Island, the Falkland Islands. Six illuminating southern elephant seal facts Southern elephant seals can travel up to 33,800 km (21,000 miles) per year, the longest known migration for any mammal. The prime breeding age is between 9 and 12. They dive for 20 minutes to over an hour, surface and breathe for 2 to 4 minutes and then dive again. Fun Facts. Their lungs have cartilage ribbing in them, which allow them to spring back and inflate upon coming to the surface. Keep dogs on a leash and well away from the seals. Large males are 14 to 16 feet in length and weigh 3,000 to 5,000 pounds. Adults are dark brown or gray. The elephant seals do not eat while they are at the rookery. Northern elephant seals spend much of the year—generally about 9 months—in the ocean. Elephant seals eat other aquatic creatures such as eels, rays, fish, crustaceans, squid, penguins, and other creatures. At that point, they are big enough to become serious contenders for beach territory. During apnea, their heart rate decreases. Here is a link to our locations. The seal mainly feeds on fish and squid. The Friends of the Elephant Seal does not share your personal information with outside advertisers or other organizations. In order to get healthy new skin, elephant seals need to spend about a month on the beach so that their blood can circulate continuously to the skin without an excessive loss of body heat. • They are excellent swimmers but move awkwardly while on land. Elephant facts. It is a member of the family Phocidae (true seals). Dogs and seals do not mix. Elephant seals are very seldom injured in this activity. 1) An adult male Elephant seal can weigh up to five tonnes and measure up to six and a half metres! In 2000, in Gisborne, New Zealand, there was an elephant seal that attacked anything that was too close or on his area, like cars, boat trailers, trees, and trash bins. Cool facts The elephant seal, like other mammals, must replace old skin and hair. The seals are carnivorous. 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