Mammal

Southern Elephant Seal Facts Mirounga leonina

MammalCircumpolar Southern Ocean, with breeding and moulting colonies on sub-Antarctic islandsCarnivore

The southern elephant seal is a huge ocean-going true seal of the Southern Ocean; adult males develop an enlarged proboscis used to produce loud breeding roars.

Habitat: Marine
Diet: Squid and fish taken during long post-breeding and post-moult foraging trips in Antarctic waters

Classification

Family: Phocidae. Order: Carnivora.

Southern Elephant Seal Habitat

Southern Elephant Seals live in Marine and Coastal and Sea Ice habitats. Their recorded range includes Circumpolar Southern Ocean, with breeding and moulting colonies on sub-Antarctic islands. Suitable food, shelter, and conditions for raising young help shape that range.

What Do Southern Elephant Seals Eat?

Diet classification: Carnivore. Recorded foods: Squid and fish taken during long post-breeding and post-moult foraging trips in Antarctic waters.

Southern Elephant Seal Conservation Status

Southern 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: Circumpolar Southern Ocean, with breeding and moulting colonies on sub-Antarctic islands
Habitat: Marine, Coastal, Sea Ice
Diet: Carnivore
Weight: 1.6 metric tonnes

Fun facts

Southern elephant seals can dive well beyond 1,500 m and may remain submerged for up to about two hours.
Breeding males fast while defending beach territories and rely on stored blubber.
They can travel thousands of kilometres between sub-Antarctic breeding islands and Antarctic feeding areas.

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