Mirounga leonina

Mirounga leonina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Southern elephant seal

photo by Ryan, Paddy

Family:	Phocidae ()
Max. size:	685 cm TL (male/unsexed); 300 cm TL (female); max.weight: 5,000 kg; max.weight: 800 kg
Environment:	pelagic-neritic; marine; depth range 0 - 8000 m
Distribution:	Indo-Pacific, Atlantic Ocean and the Antarctic: Circumpolar in the Southern Hemisphere, Skeleton coast of Namibia around the Cape to Ilha Bazaruto in Mozambique. Polar, temperate.
Diagnosis:
Biology:	Prefers sandy and cobble beaches, but will haul out on ice, snow or rocky terrace); they venture inland into tussock grass and other vegetation, and frequently lie in mud wallows. Feeds on 75% cephalopods and 25% fish. Maximum measurements for female species based from Ref. 1394. Reported from 0 m- m (Ref. 1394) but is observed to occur at greater depths based on more recent data (Kaschner, K. pers. comm., 20/10/14). Prefers sandy and cobble beaches, but will haul out on ice, snow or rocky terraces; they venture inland into tussock grass and other vegetation, and frequently lie in mud wallows. Feeds on 75% cephalopods and 25% fish (Ref. 1394).
IUCN Red List Status:	(LC); Date assessed: 12 December 2014 Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans:
Country info:

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