Southern Elephant Seal

A trip to Antarctica is a dream for animal lovers, with its amazing array of unique creatures. Even if you’re not an avid animal enthusiast, the Southern Hemisphere’s wildlife has a way of charming everyone. The Southern Elephant seal might seem an unlikely charmer; these giant, hulking masses on the beach are formidable. Yet, something about them mesmerizes our guests. Let’s see how these spectacular creatures quickly become a favorite for all who encounter them.

Males emit strong, powerful vocalisations to assert dominance within their group during the breeding season

Southern Elephant Seal Quick Overview

Questions Guests Ask About the Southern Elephant Seal

What Do They Eat?

The southern elephant diet mainly consists of fish and squid, supplemented with snails and crustaceans that they catch during dives that can be very deep and are only surpassed by some whales species.

Where Do Southern Elephant Seals Live?

Relatives in the Monachinae subfamily did not adapt to life on ice, unlike other true seals such as the crabeater seal, ross seal, weddell seal, and leopard seal. Instead, they are the most land-adapted of all seals, and the southern elephant seal’s habitat is mainly the remote beaches that are used for breeding. Outside of the breeding season, they usually live in the sea along the Antarctic coast, but sometimes those big creatures come ashore to rest. They breed in the same colonies each year on several sub-Antarctic islands surrounding the continent, with the largest colonies on South Georgia Island, but are also seen in the Falkland Islands, South Shetland Islands, and the Antarctic Peninsula.

How Big Are Southern Elephant Seals?

When the pups are born, they usually weigh around 40-45 kg. The female nurses them for about three weeks, and afterwards the baby elephant seal starts hunting in the water for prey, but its mother continues nursing for another five weeks until they reach a weight of at least 120-130 kg, after which it is left on its own. Male elephant seals are the absolute giants among all seals and among the biggest carnivores. In terms of weight among carnivores, it is only surpassed by the largest toothed whales. Thus, these majestic creatures are the heaviest marine mammals that also live on land. They range between 4.2 and 5.7 m long with a weight of 2.2-4 tonnes. Additionally, female southern elephant seals are five times smaller than the males, reaching up to 2.6-3 m in length with a weight between 400 and 900 kg, which is slightly smaller than the females of the walrus.

What Makes Them Unique Among Marine Mammals?

Considering their incredible size, elephant seals travel surprisingly far. They will travel up to 21,000 miles per year, which is the longest known migration of any mammal. While other species of seal stay close to land, the elephant seal will swim out to the deep ocean for more than 80 percent of its life, spending much of that time deep below the surface. They can hold their breath for more than 20 minutes, which is longer than any other non-cetacean mammal, and reach depths up to 3,000ft.

What Is the Difference Between the Northern and Southern Elephant Seal Species?

There are two different species elephant seal worldwide: the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) and the northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris). Although these animals share many similarities, they live in different oceans and do not overlap. The northern species lives along the coast of Baja California in Mexico to the southern coasts of Alaska. Additionally, this species is smaller in size and has a smaller proboscis (nose) compared to the southern seals.

How Long Do They Live?

The southern elephant seals lifespan ranges from 20 to 22 years, but it can live up to 30 years. Usually, females live longer than males.

What Is Their Breeding Behavior Like?

An Elephant seal breeding ground is not for the faint-hearted, but we can attest that it is a remarkable site to behold. The males are big, bad and belligerent, inflating their noses and making deep noises, ready to fight other males to show who’s boss. They fight by raising up their massive bodies and ramming into each other with chests and teeth. The females can be seen languidly lounging on the beach, gathering in groups of up to 50, called a ‘harem’. They are there first to give birth, then when they are ready, there is a short window to mate, then retreat to the ocean as quickly as possible.

Why Do Males Have Such Large Noses?

Elephant seal pups are some of the CUTEST animals we encounter, they look like little sausage logs with big doe eyes and whiskers. But as the males mature, they grow incredible bulbous noses that are almost trunk-like (hence their namesake). When a male is asserting himself against other males, he will rear his head and inflate his nose like a balloon. When the tip of his nose is pointed into his mouth, he can use it like a megaphone to make loud belching noises, fending off other males that might approach his harem.

Which Animals Live in Antarctica and Which Don’t?

Antarctica is known for its remarkable and abundant wildlife. The main species found in Antarctica are penguins, seals, whales, and seabirds. Species you WON’T see in Antarctica: reptiles, amphibians, walrus, rodents, polar bears, foxes, muskox, reindeer or other terrestrial mammals (these are more commonly found in the Arctic).

Did you know that males are bigger than females?

How Many of These 10 Southern Elephant Seal Facts Did You Already Know?

1. According to Guinness World Records, the largest southern elephant seal ever recorded was 6.85 meters (22.5 feet) long.
2. They can go without food for over three months.
3. Their range spans the Southern Ocean, particularly around Antarctica.
4. Predators of these seals are killer whales and leopard seals, which usually hunt the pups and juveniles
5. Their massive size is composed of 40% skin and blubber.
6. Male elephant seals fight to establish the hierarchy of the beach, and usually the largest one claims the dominant position.
7. Male elephant seals fight for leadership by raising their upper body, attacking with open mouths and fangs, causing bloodshed and scars on opponents.
8. Males are five times bigger than females.
9. The largest males often show such mutual respect that they emit a loud, violent roar, appearing threatening without actually attacking.
10. Their size is usually 50% larger than that of the northern elephant seal.