Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina)

News: The International Union for Conservation of Nature has reclassified the southern elephant seal from Least Concern to Vulnerable on its Red List.

About Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina)

• The southern elephant seal is one of two species of elephant seals.
• Scientific name: Their scientific name is Mirounga leonina and they belong to the Phocidae family or true seals.
• They are the largest seals on the planet and also the biggest mammals on Earth after whales.
• They are the deepest diving seals on earth.
• Habitat: They exhibit an almost circumpolar distribution in the cold, nutrient-rich waters of the Southern Ocean.  
  • They live on land only when molting, breeding, and giving birth.
• Distribution: They inhabit large portions of the southern hemisphere.
  • This includes lands in Antarctica and islands in the southern part of Africa, South America, and Australia. 
• Characteristics
  • Appearance: They have a thick layer of blubber covered with a yellowish or silvery grey-brown coat.
  • Every year, they undergo molt, shedding their fur along with a layer of skin, then regrowing it within about a month.
  • A distinctive feature of mature males is their large, trunk-like snout (proboscis), which is used to amplify their vocalisations.
  • They show sexual dimorphism where adult males are much larger and heavier than females.
  • They often bunch together in muddy pits called wallows, using their small flippers to cover themselves with wet sand, which helps keep them cool.
  • Diet: They are carnivores and feed upon cephalopods, pelagic and demersal fish species, and crustaceans, including krill.
  • They commonly dive to depths of 980-2600 feet (300-800 meters) while feeding and remain submerged for 30 minutes at a time.
• Threat:
  • Anthropogenic activities
  • Climate change and spread of  diseases
• Conservation status 
  • IUCN Red List: It is classified as Vulnerable (earlierLeast Concern).