# Northern Elephant Seal (*Mirounga angustirostris*) Northern Elephant Seals are large, playful animals that spend most of their time in the ocean. They can be very loud and love to bask on sandy beaches. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate - **Snaps:** 7 - **Habitat:** Coastal areas - **Also known as:** Elephant Seal ![Northern Elephant Seal](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Elephant_seals_fighting.jpg&width=800) Photo: Mike Baird , bairdphotos.com, CC BY 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Elephant_seals_fighting.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern Elephant Seal has a massive, blubbery body, typically dark brown or greyish. Males are easily identified by their large, inflatable proboscis, resembling an elephant's trunk. Females are smaller and lack this distinctive nose. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Phocidae - **Genus:** Mirounga ## Interesting facts - Elephant seals can slow their heart rate to dive super deep! - Males fast for three months during breeding, losing half their weight! - Pups gain over 4 kg a day from super rich milk! - They don't drink water; they get all their hydration from the fish they eat! ## Special abilities - **Sound Roarer:** Male Northern Elephant Seals have a giant, inflatable nose that amplifies their loud roars to attract mates. - **Blubber Power:** Northern Elephant Seals have a super thick blubber layer that keeps them warm and fuels their long journeys. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 250-600 cm - **Weight:** 400-2300 kg - **Lifespan:** 14-19 years - **Speed:** 20 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 330-365 days ## Diet & Feeding These ocean hunters eat many types of squid and fish from the deep sea. - **Primary Foods:** Squid, Octopi, Ratfish, Hake, Rockfish, Pelagic crabs - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Great White Shark](https://www.snappit.app/explore/great-white-shark) (*Carcharodon carcharias*) — Hunts juveniles and sick seals. - **Eaten by:** Killer Whale (*Orcinus orca*) — Preys on seals of all ages. - **Hunts:** Pacific Hake (*Merluccius productus*) — Main food source in deep water. - **Hunts:** Humboldt Squid (*Dosidicus gigas*) — Frequent prey in deep ocean. ## Traits - [Whiskered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/whiskered): Possessing prominent sensory hairs or vibrissae, often around the snout. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Carnivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/carnivorous): This trait identifies organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of animal tissue. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [Marine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/marine): Marine habitats encompass all saltwater environments of the Earth's oceans, supporting an immense diversity of aquatic life. - [Migratory](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/migratory): Migratory animals undertake seasonal movements from one region to another, typically in response to changes in climate or food availability. - [Endangered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/endangered): Endangered status indicates a species is at a very high risk of extinction in the wild in the near future. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 3/5 · Moderate Always watch from a distance and never approach wild seals. They need their space! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Elephant Seal? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Northern Elephant Seal? 250-600 cm ### How much does Northern Elephant Seal weigh? 400-2300 kg ### How long does Northern Elephant Seal live? 14-19 years ### How fast can Northern Elephant Seal move? 20 km/h ### What does Northern Elephant Seal eat? These ocean hunters eat many types of squid and fish from the deep sea. ### Where is Northern Elephant Seal usually found? Coastal areas ### How does Northern Elephant Seal hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [King Range](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/king-range) — California, US · Nature Reserve - [Point Reyes National Seashore](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/point-reyes-national-seashore) — California, US · National Park - [The Marine Mammal Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-marine-mammal-center) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see Northern Elephant Seal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-elephant-seal) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Northern Elephant Seal: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-elephant-seal)