Mammal

Northern Elephant Seal Facts Mirounga angustirostris

MammalEastern and central North Pacific, from Baja California and California north to AlaskaCarnivore

The northern elephant seal is the largest true seal in the Northern Hemisphere, with adult males developing a large inflatable proboscis used during breeding displays.

Habitat: Marine
Diet: Northern elephant seals exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism in their feeding behaviours.

Classification

Family: Phocidae. Order: Carnivora.

Northern Elephant Seal Habitat

Northern Elephant Seals live in Marine and Coastal habitats. Their recorded range includes Eastern and central North Pacific, from Baja California and California north to Alaska. Suitable food, shelter, and conditions for raising young help shape that range.

What Do Northern Elephant Seals Eat?

Diet classification: Carnivore. Recorded foods: Northern elephant seals exhibit extreme sexual dimorphism in their feeding behaviours.

Northern Elephant Seal Conservation Status

Northern Elephant Seal is listed here as Least Concern. Protecting habitat, maintaining healthy prey or food sources, and reducing human pressure are important parts of conserving wild populations.

Quick facts

Region: Eastern and central North Pacific, from Baja California and California north to Alaska
Habitat: Marine, Coastal
Diet: Carnivore
Size: Adult males can exceed 13 ft (4 m); females are about 10 ft (3 m)
Weight: 750 kg

Fun facts

The majority of these rookeries are in California and northern Baja California, ranging from Point Reyes National Seashore, California to Isla Natividad, Mexico.
The northern elephant seal lives in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
These activities occur at rookeries that are located on offshore islands or remote mainland beaches.

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