Phocini Phoca sibirica, Baikal seal Elephant seals are larger in every way when compared to walruses, which may come as a surprise to you. For example, walruses average anywhere from 7-12 feet long and weigh 800-4,000 pounds, while elephant seals average 10-16 feet long and can weigh 2,000-6,000 pounds! [4] It feeds on a wide range of prey including cephalopods, other pinnipeds, krill, fish, and birds, particularly penguins. Pinnipeds are carnivorous marine mammals with fin-like limbs. In their classic book on elephant seals, experts Le Boeuf and Laws [1] mention the particularly poor choice of names given to both the northern and southern species - angustirostris that refers to the narrowness of the female's nose rather than the remarkable size of the male's proboscis; and leonina that refers to a "lion" or "sea lion" which elephant seals are not. Both species are thought to have originated from monachinoid seals that made their way from the Atlantic into the Pacific about 15 to 20 million years ago when the barrier between the two oceans was open across central America. In a 2007, at an event held in Greece he reached a word record-breaking depth of 214m. [11] Outside of these groups, a beta bull is normally roaming around on the beach. [12] Females do not have the large proboscis and can be distinguished between species by looking at their nose characteristics. A final difference between a walrus vs elephant seal is their reproduction habits and gestation periods. Upper image: Photographer - Michal Utin. Known for their large nose, which is called a "proboscis," elephant seals are an incredibly unique species of animal. Not only are walruses extremely different from elephant seals, they also have a few things in common! Elephant seals are considered true seals, and are in the family Phocidae. [10], Males arrive at potential breeding sites in spring, and fast to ensure that they can mate with as many females as possible. Pinniped phylogeny and a new hypothesis for their origin and dispersal. Huntington's chorea: Evolution and genetic disease. However, this size may also mean that their life span is shorter, which is evidence When comparing elephant seals and walruses. Male and female animals take different migration paths throughout the year. The elephant seal is a distinctive marine mammal known as a "pinniped." Pinniped include are seals, sea lions, and walruses. Most of this time is underwater, diving to depths of about 1,000 to 2,500 feet for 20 to 30 minute intervals with only short breaks at the surface. Reward Posted for Information in Shooting of Elephant Seal Near Highway 1 Viewing Area, NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION, Report a Stranded or Injured Marine Animal, Climate, Ecosystems & Fisheries Initiative, stock assessment reports with population estimates are available, Learn more about our conservation efforts, Incidental Take Authorization: Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory Geophysical Surveys at the Cascadia Subduction Zone and Juan de Fuca Plate in the. - and he did! [11], Elephant seals have external whiskers called vibrissae to help them locate prey and navigate their environment. These seals can dive for about 30 minutes and even sleep under the water. Lets dive in and learn more about them now. Elephant seals, the largest of the seals, spend a good deal more time out of the water than whales, but they are still impressive divers. Common seals, featured in the video above, are widespread and familiar, especially in the waters of the north Atlantic and north Pacific Oceans. Hunting reduced their population size to as few as 20 individuals at the end of the 19th century. Mirounga angustirostris, northern elephant seal Sexual dimorphism is one way that living things economize on the use of available resources. Credit: Marine Mammals of Maine. When does spring start? The largest known specimens were more than 20ft . [11][24] By the time males reach eight to nine years of age, they have developed a pronounced long nose, in addition to a chest shield, which is thickened skin in their chest area. The skin has to be regrown by blood vessels reaching through the blubber. They breathe air like humans and other mammals, reptiles and birds, but they spend most of their time at sea. So if you find something that's too bizarre not to share, make sure to hit him up! Female elephant seals give birth to a single pup after an 11-month gestation. Diet Carnivore, Piscivores, Molluscivore Mating Habits MATING BEHAVIOR Polygyny REPRODUCTION SEASON December-March, August-November PREGNANCY DURATION 7-9 and 10-1 BABY CARRYING 1 pup INDEPENDENT AGE 20-27 days Which species developed first and how they became separated between the two hemispheres is not known. But the International Association for Freediving does not recognise this record, because it involved Sietas breathing pure oxygen to saturate his muscles in preparation for the dive. [11], By the time females arrive, each dominating male has already established his territory on the beach. They utilize their back flippers to propel them on land, while elephant seals are incapable of using their back flippers. [10] Elephant seals spend the majority of their life (90%) underwater in search of food, and can cover 100 kilometres (60 miles) a day when they head out to sea. Some encounters end with roaring and aggressive posturing, but many others turn into violent and bloody battles. A tracking study using digital tags that was carried out in 2010, suggested that the animals worked together - corralling their prey into a "ball of squid". Males battle each other for mating dominance. [11] Males and females lose up to a third of their body weight during the breeding season. Bats and agaves make tequila possibleand theyre both at risk, The new year once started in Marchhere's why, Jimmy Carter on the greatest challenges of the 21st century, This ancient Greek warship ruled the Mediterranean, 3 ways Jimmy Carter changed the world for the better, The meaning of the cross of ashes on Ash Wednesday, This disease often goes under-diagnosedunless youre white, The groundbreaking promise of cellular housekeeping. Conversely, females maintain their smaller noses and smooth necks. Elephant seals do not have tusks, while walruses always do. Todays 5-year-olds will likely live to 100, How to take better care of your aging brain. Elephant seals congregate in large numbers on beaches to breed. The northern elephant seal, somewhat smaller than its southern relative, ranges over the Pacific coast of the U.S., Canada and Mexico. [2] Teeth originally identified as representing an unnamed species of Mirounga have been found in South Africa, and dated to the Miocene epoch;[3][4] however, Boessenecker and Churchill (2016) considered these teeth almost certainly to be misidentified toothed whale (odontocete) teeth. That's 18 teeth on the top and 20 on the bottom. Northern elephant seals are found in the eastern and central North Pacific Ocean. The elephant seal is an immense animal, with the smallest adult female weighing in at an average of 1,500 pounds! When on land, elephant seals move about using an undulating or worm-like motion. Enter your email in the box below to get the most mind-blowing animal stories and videos delivered directly to your inbox every day. [2] The elephant seals evolved in the Pacific Ocean during the Pliocene period. Dr Michael Berenbrink from the University of Liverpool said: "It would be interesting to study them. In addition, they have a larger proportion of oxygen-carrying red blood cells. Other threats to elephant seals include entanglement in fishing gear and collisions with boats. [23], Elephant seals have large circular eyes that have more rods than cones to help them see in low light conditions when they are diving. Evol. [11] This molting process takes up to a month to complete. [11] Females cluster in groups called harems, which consist of up to 50 females surrounding one alpha male. Read about our approach to external linking. [10] Elephant seals are considered true seals, and fall under the family Phocidae. [34] The animal is protected in most countries where it lives. The elephant is among the more intelligent animals. Northern males and young adults haul out during June to July to molt; northern females and immature seals during April to May. Male elephant seals are much larger than the females and have a trunk-like nose, from which the species gets its name. Adult males usually dive deeper than . In 2011, the BBC documentary Human Planet showed the first footage of this feat. The southern species has an extensive molting period in which considerable patches of hair and skin are . Northern elephant seals live about 9 years and southern elephant seals live 20 to 22 years. Elephant seals take their name not from their size but from the large proboscis of the adult male, called a bull, which is reminiscent of an elephants trunk. Read about our approach to external linking. Female elephant seals are smaller than males, and have a normal-sized nose. Meanwhile, southern elephant seals live in sub-Antarctic and Antarctic waters. Cystophora cristata, hooded seal Otariinae/Arctocephalinae Elephant seals spend up to 80% of their lives in the ocean. Minimizing harassment and illegal feeding. Though they range as far north as Alaska, they typically breed and give birth in the Channel Islands off California or Baja California in Mexico, primarily on offshore islands from December to March. Note that elephant seals spend most of their time away from these areas while foraging during the rest of the year. Adult males use their large, inflatable noses during the winter breeding season to resonate sound when vocally threatening each other. Females generally live for about 19 years, while males only live for about 13 years. There are two species of elephant seals: northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) and southern and southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina). [10][11] These seals also possess a structure called the tapetum lucidum, which helps their vision by having light reflected back to the retina to allow more chances for photoreceptors to detect light. Arctocephalus pusillus, South African fur seal These adaptations allow elephant seals to dive to such depths and remain underwater for up to two hours. Their stomachs also often contain gastroliths. Pups are born in early winter from December to January. 5 min read. They are rarely seen out at sea for this reason. The elite human breath-holders are free-divers. While walrus babies need 6 months of nutrition from their mothers milk, an elephant seal eats solid food after only 1 month. Our scientists collect information and present these data in annual stock assessment reports. Walrus vs Elephant Seal: Lifespan Both species spend most of their lives at sea and return to land to breed and molt. Elephant seals rarely cross paths with humans but when they do they can really throw their weight around. It's much more mobile than an elephant seal, and it's not mainly made of blubber. A male Northern elephant seal, now named Coolio, was rescued by the North Coast Marine Mammal Center in 2014. Elephant seals are the largest extant carnivorans, weighing up to 8,800 pounds. Phocarctos hookeri, Hooker's sea lion At the crash site of 'no hope' - BBC reporter in Greece. Odobenus rosmarus, walrus The average elephant seal lives roughly 20 years in the wild, while walruses live anywhere from 40 to 50 years. The main predators for walruses are humans, while elephant seals are frequently attacked by killer whales. ELEPHANT SEAL VS WALRUS - Who would win this deadly struggle? A female elephant seal living in the Antarctic region can be as long . [7], John Edward Gray established the genus Mirounga in 1827. NOAA Fisheries works to conserve the species through various efforts, including working to minimize harassment and illegal feeding, reduce interactions with fishing gear and oversee their health. Herbert Nitsch, an Austrian free-diver is recognised as the "deepest man on earth". As of 2018, there is only one known elephant seal held in human care. The southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) is one of two species of elephant seals.It is the largest member of the clade Pinnipedia and the order Carnivora, as well as the largest extant 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. [11] Phocids (true seals) are characterized by having no external ear and reduced limbs. Males feed near the eastern Aleutian Islands and in the Gulf of Alaska, and females feed farther south, in the offshore waters of Washington and Oregon. 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