In both species, male elephant seals can weigh up to 10 times more than females. During breeding season, Northern elephant seals inhabit sandy beaches, both on offshore islands and on some parts of the mainland United States. Reproduction without explicit permission is prohibited. Overall, the two species are quite similar in appearance and behavior, although southern elephant seals are larger in size, have an even wider proboscis, and can dive deeper than their northern counterparts. Males battle to define and defend their territory. Some encounters end with roaring and aggressive posturing, but many others turn into violent and bloody battles. Elephant seals are now protected from harm under the Marine Mammal Protection Act, and their numbers have bounced back to a healthy population level. This discipline, where free-divers attempt to reach the greatest depth, is known as no-limits apnea. [11] They display their dominance by showing their noses, making loud vocalisations, and altering their postures. Phoca vitulina, harbor seal, Icelandic specimen Walrus vs Elephant Seal: Lifespan Once they molt, a sleek, silver-gray coat is revealed. Females are significantly smaller than males, but are also quite large, growing to about 10 feet long and weighing up to 1,300 pounds. Phocids (A.K.A true seals) can be distinguished from Otariidae (A.K.A eared seals) by looking for a few specific characteristics. Photo: NOAA Fisheries. Our scientists collect information and present these data in annual stock assessment reports. (See diagram on the left). [11], Elephant seals have a helpful feature in their bodies known as the countercurrent heat exchanger to help conserve energy and prevent heat loss. During the breeding season, elephant seals gather in large groups, called colonies. Elephant seals spend up to 80% of their lives in the ocean. [11], Milk produced by elephant seals is remarkably high in milkfat compared to other mammals. Northern elephant seals are protected throughout their range under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. [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. Adam says that meditation is a crucial part of free-diving. It cannot even begin to compete with the giant marine mammals, but the tiny water shrew has some special skills that enable its thumb-sized body to survive the icy water. Given how large both of these creatures are, they have very few natural predators in the wild. Walruses are extremely aggressive oh, and have capable tusks that they use to defend themselves. - Eared seals or sea lions and fur seals Adults return to land between March and August to molt, with males returning later than females. They are even known to "smell" underwater, bubbling air from their nose close to potential prey before sucking it back in. Females begin breeding at age 36, and have one pup per breeding attempt. Northern elephant seal pups are black until they are weaned at about 6 weeks old, and they molt and turn light silver. Human activities like pollution, habitat degradation, and climate change also threaten both species. Distribution of elephant seal breeding colonies around the world today. Northern elephant seals live about 9 years and southern elephant seals live 20 to 22 years. Family Phocidae Odobenus rosmarus, walrus 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! Humans rank in between, with a 1.4kg (3lbs) brain and give or take 86 billion neurons. [27] Annual survival probability of adult females is 0.83 for experienced breeding females, but only 0.66 for first-time breeders indicating a significant cost of reproduction. [11], Elephant seals take their name from the large proboscis of the adult male (bull), reminiscent of an elephant's trunk, and considered a secondary sexual characteristic. Within a year, the coat will turn a silvery brown. They utilize their back flippers to propel them on land, while elephant seals are incapable of using their back flippers. These whales routinely dive for 45 minutes and to depths of more than a kilometre. The southern elephant seal is a true seal and is the largest pinniped (seal or sea lion) and carnivoran (hairy carnivore) in the world. reduced genetic variation from the original population. Walruses are covered in a tough skin with sparse coarse hair, while elephant seals have a thin layer of brown or gray hair covering their entire body. Because of their reduced limbs, they have a more difficult time moving on land. Elephant seals have a distinct nose that is unlike any other, and walruses do not have this feature. How a zoo break-in changed the life of an owl called Flaco, Naked mole rats are fertile until they die, study finds. The smaller seal is an adult female and the much larger one with the trunk-like nose is an adult male. [11], Sheathbills, Skuas, Western Gulls, and African feral cats have been reported to steal milk from the elephant seals' teats.[30][31][32][33]. Elephant seals are carnivores (piscivores) and their favorite foods are skates, rays, squid, octopuses, eels, small sharks, and large fish. Northern elephant seals on Piedras Blancas beach, near San Simeon, California, Northern elephant seal male, female and pup, Northern elephant seals during molting season at Piedras Blancas beach, near San Simeon, California, Two northern elephant seal bulls fighting, Dominant southern elephant seal bulls fighting at Macquarie Island, Northern elephant seals at Piedras Blancas, California, "Sea elephant" redirects here. Elephant seals migrate in search of food, spending months at sea and often diving deep to forage. Histriophocina Male Pacific Walruses can grow up to 1700kg in size and 3.6m in length. [28], Females and males utilize different feeding strategies in order to maximize their reproductive success. [11] Cookie cutter sharks can take bites from their skin. Once entangled, seals may drag and swim with attached gear for long distances, ultimately resulting in fatigue, compromised feeding ability, or severe injury, which may lead to reduced reproductive success, lower survival rates and/or death. As of 2018, there is only one known elephant seal held in human care. [10], Their body is covered in blubber, which helps them keep warm and reduce drag while they are swimming. Elephant seals congregate in large numbers on beaches to breed. Cookies help us deliver our services. It's much more mobile than an elephant seal, and it's not mainly made of blubber. Along with the beaked whale, the sperm whale is one of nature's best divers. The seals return to their breeding grounds, known as rookeries, in winter. There is a notable difference in lifespan between males and females. By using their front flippers, sea lions are easily the fastest group of pinnipeds. The female elephant seals and the male elephant seals have different hunting routines. Their hair and outer layers of skin molt in large patches. "This one was only for a Guinness World Record," Adam explains. Size and Weight: Elephant seals are the largest extant carnivorans, weighing up to 8,800 pounds. Instead, the sea lion tail is used like a rudder. When I'm not writing personally or professionally, you can find me camping along the Oregon coast with my high school sweetheart and Chihuahua mix, or in my home kitchen, perfecting recipes in a gleaming cast iron skillet. "As you dive deeper your chest starts to collapse, making it more difficult to get air from your lungs back to your mouth to equalise," he says. The leopard seal is an agile predator found in the waters of the Antarctic. Mirounga angustirostris, northern elephant seal NOAA Fisheries is committed to protecting northern elephant seals. [34] The animal is protected in most countries where it lives. Females generally live for about 19 years, while males only live for about 13 years. In this article, we will take a look at all of these differences, including the variety of habitats and preferences that both of these creatures have. Phoca sibirica, Baikal seal This is one of 21 species in the beaked whale group. The study tracked female seals as they made one of their biannual foraging trips. Contact the AZ Animals editorial team. Northern elephant seals are found in the eastern and central North Pacific Ocean. The proboscis overhangs their lower lip by about 8 inches. 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. Erignathini [8] The generic name Mirounga is a Latinization of miouroung, which is said to have been a term for the seal in an Australian Aboriginal language. In their breeding area, males collect a harem of 40 to 50 females. [11] Male elephant seals use fighting, vocalisations, and different positions to determine the dominant males. All Rights Reserved. A female elephant seal living in the Antarctic region can be as long . Phocinae, northern true seals 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! Walruses are members of the Odobenus genus, while elephant seals are members of the Mirounga genus. Both species, the northern elephant seal (M. angustirostris) and the southern elephant seal (M. leonina), were hunted to the brink of extinction for oil by the end of the 19th century, but their numbers have since recovered. An elephants brain is about four times the size of a humans brain. Northern males and young adults haul out during June to July to molt; northern females and immature seals during April to May. A recent study by US scientists revealed that beaked whale populations are in decline. The southern species has an extensive molting period in which considerable patches of hair and skin are . A recent tracking study of adult female elephant. During this time, she does not eat. This pup will nurse for just one month before being weaned. [11] The new pups will spend up to 10 additional weeks on land learning how to swim and dive.[11]. Both species are listed as of Least Concern by IUCNs Red List. Erignathus barbatus, bearded seal [11] The females and juveniles will molt first, followed by the sub adult males, and finally the large mature males. This enables them to hunt the giant squid they eat.
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