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Difference between revisions of "Southern elephant seal"
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Westarctica (talk | contribs) (Created page with "The '''southern elephant seal''' (''Mirounga leonina'') is one of the two species of elephant seals. It is the largest member of the clade Pinnipedia and the order Carnivora,...") |
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[[File:Elephant Seal penguins.jpg|thumb|right|400px|Elephant seal with king penguins]] | |||
The '''southern elephant seal''' (''Mirounga leonina'') 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. A bull southern elephant seal is about 40% heavier than a male northern elephant seal (''Mirounga angustirostris''), more than twice as heavy as a male walrus (''Odobenus rosmarus''), and six to seven times heavier than the largest living terrestrial carnivorans, the polar bear (''Ursus maritimus'') and the Kodiak bear (''Ursus arctos middendorffi''). | The '''southern elephant seal''' (''Mirounga leonina'') 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. A bull southern elephant seal is about 40% heavier than a male northern elephant seal (''Mirounga angustirostris''), more than twice as heavy as a male walrus (''Odobenus rosmarus''), and six to seven times heavier than the largest living terrestrial carnivorans, the polar bear (''Ursus maritimus'') and the Kodiak bear (''Ursus arctos middendorffi''). | ||
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==Range and population== | ==Range and population== | ||
[[File:Elephant Seal Range.png|thumb|right|300px|Southern elephant seal range]] | |||
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. | 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. | ||
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==Behavior== | ==Behavior== | ||
===Social behavior and reproduction=== | ===Social behavior and reproduction=== | ||
[[File:ElephantSeal.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Elephant seal yawning]] | |||
Elephant seals are among the seals that can stay on land for the longest periods of time, as they can stay dry for several consecutive weeks each year. Males arrive in the colonies earlier than the females and fight for control of harems when they arrive. Large body size confers advantages in fighting and the agonistic relationships of the bulls gives rise to a dominance hierarchy, with access to harems and activity within harems being determined by rank. The dominant bulls (“harem masters”) establish harems of several dozen females. The least successful males have no harems, but may try to copulate with a harem male's females when the male is not looking. The majority of primiparous females and a significant proportion of multiparous females mate at sea with roaming males away from harems. | Elephant seals are among the seals that can stay on land for the longest periods of time, as they can stay dry for several consecutive weeks each year. Males arrive in the colonies earlier than the females and fight for control of harems when they arrive. Large body size confers advantages in fighting and the agonistic relationships of the bulls gives rise to a dominance hierarchy, with access to harems and activity within harems being determined by rank. The dominant bulls (“harem masters”) establish harems of several dozen females. The least successful males have no harems, but may try to copulate with a harem male's females when the male is not looking. The majority of primiparous females and a significant proportion of multiparous females mate at sea with roaming males away from harems. | ||
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===Feeding and diving=== | ===Feeding and diving=== | ||
[[File:ElephantSeal fighting.jpg|thumb|right|Bull elephant seals fighting over a harem of females]] | |||
Satellite tracking revealed the seals spend very little time on the surface, usually a few minutes for breathing. They dive repeatedly, each time for more than 20 minutes, to hunt squid and fish at depths of 400 to 1,000 m (1,300 to 3,300 ft). They are the deepest diving air-breathing non-cetaceans and have been recorded at a maximum of 2,133 m (6,998 ft) in depth. | Satellite tracking revealed the seals spend very little time on the surface, usually a few minutes for breathing. They dive repeatedly, each time for more than 20 minutes, to hunt squid and fish at depths of 400 to 1,000 m (1,300 to 3,300 ft). They are the deepest diving air-breathing non-cetaceans and have been recorded at a maximum of 2,133 m (6,998 ft) in depth. | ||