Top 10 Incredible Elephant Seal Facts
Alpha Male’s Main Duty Is Breeding: Harem masters have been seen to give birth to as many as 125 offspring, and dominant males fathered an astounding 90% of all observed pups.
Males Are Big Enough To Crush Vehicle:A southern elephant seal named Homer is reputed to enjoy turning parked vehicles into scrap metal. Homer is 14 feet long and weighs 4,500 pounds.
Males Have Huge, Inflatable Snouts:A male elephant seal has a huge nose, and the accompanying sack-like appendage known as a proboscis makes him stand out from a female.
Enemy Males Recognize One Another By Their Noises:The proboscis’s principal function is to make alarm calls to scare away rival males and prevent fights from breaking out.
Southern Elephant Seals Are Huge:There are 33 species of pinnipeds known to exist, with southern elephant seals being the largest. A large individual can grow to a length of 20 feet and a weight of 8800 pounds.
There Are Two Types Of Elephant Seals:Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) are widespread from Alaska to Mexico, and you might come across a colony of them on any beach you visit.
Male Elephant Seals Are Much Larger Than Females:The largest males can reach a length of about 13 feet and a weight of about 4500 pounds, whereas the largest females reach a length of about 3 feet less and a weight of about 3000 pounds less.
They Can Go Long Periods Without Drinking Water:Whenever an elephant seal is on land, it may go days or even weeks without drinking. To avoid dehydrating, their kidneys produce concentrated urine, containing less water but more waste.
Elephant Seals Have Done Some Voice Acting:The unique noise can reverberate effectively; therefore, it was called “a great projecting call.” There are no elephant seals to be found in the “Drums in the deep” of the Moria mines.
They Can Dive A Mile Or More Deep:In 2012, marine researchers witnessed a northern female dive an incredible 5788 feet beneath the surface. The elephant seal is a master breath-holder and can swim for as long as two hours without surface time.