Difference between revisions of "Template:POTD protected"

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'''[[Lepley Nunatak]]''' is a small yet conspicuous rocky [[nunatak]] located 2 nautical miles (4 km) southwest of [[Dendtler Island]], near the inner part and eastern end of the [[Abbot Ice Shelf]] in [[Westarctica]].
The '''[[southern elephant seal]]''' is one of the two species of elephant seals. It is the largest member of the clade Pinnipedia and the order Carnivora, as well as the largest 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.


The nunatak is named for Larry K. Lepley, an oceanographer of the [[U.S. Navy]] Hydrographic Office, who, along with three other scientists, was marooned at this nunatak in February 1961 during a severe snowstorm.
The world population was estimated at 650,000 animals in the mid-1990s, and was estimated in 2005 at between 664,000 and 740,000 animals. Studies have shown the existence of three geographic subpopulations, one in each of the three oceans. Tracking studies have indicated the routes traveled by elephant seals, demonstrating their main feeding area is at the edge of the Antarctic continent. While elephant seals may come ashore in [[Antarctica]] occasionally to rest or to mate, they gather to breed in subantarctic locations.


It was first sighted on 9 February 1961 from helicopters of the [[USS Glacier|USS ''Glacier'']] (AGB-4) and USS ''Staten Island'' (AGB-5). While the three-person field survey team was exploring surrounding area, they became trapped on the ground by severe winds and heavy snowfall causing total whiteout conditions. The team sheltered in place at the nunatak until the storm blew over, and it was later named for Larry Lepley, one of the members of the team.
<p><small>Photographer: Liam Quinn</small></p>
 
[[:Category:Images|'''(More Images)''']]
<p><small>Photographer: Jeremy Miner</small></p>
[[:Category:Images|'''(More Featured Images)''']]
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Latest revision as of 03:24, 2 May 2024

Elephant Seal penguins.jpg

The southern elephant seal is one of the two species of elephant seals. It is the largest member of the clade Pinnipedia and the order Carnivora, as well as the largest 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.

The world population was estimated at 650,000 animals in the mid-1990s, and was estimated in 2005 at between 664,000 and 740,000 animals. Studies have shown the existence of three geographic subpopulations, one in each of the three oceans. Tracking studies have indicated the routes traveled by elephant seals, demonstrating their main feeding area is at the edge of the Antarctic continent. While elephant seals may come ashore in Antarctica occasionally to rest or to mate, they gather to breed in subantarctic locations.

Photographer: Liam Quinn

(More Images)