Northern Elephant Seal

Description:

The northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) is one of two species of elephant seal (the other is the southern elephant seal). It is a member of the family Phocidae ("true seals"). Elephant seals derive their name from their great size and from the male's large proboscis, which is used in making extraordinarily loud roaring noises, especially during the mating competition. There is a great sexual dimorphism in size. The males can grow to 14 ft (4 m) and 5,000 lb (2,300 kg), while the females grow to 11 ft (3 m) and 1,400 lb (640 kg). Correspondingly, there is a highly polygynous mating system, with a successful male able to impregnate up to 50 females in one season.

Habitat:

The northern elephant seal lives in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. Feeding grounds extend from northern Baja California to northern Vancouver Island.Males migrate as far north as Alaska and British Columbia, while females migrate as far west as Hawaii.They come ashore to breed, give birth and molt, mostly on offshore islands. While the pelagic range covers an enormous span, there are only about seven principal breeding areas, four of which are on islands off the coast of California. Recently increasing numbers have been observed in the Gulf of California. Breeding colonies exist at Channel Islands, Año Nuevo State Reserve, Piedras Blancas Light, Morro Bay State Park and the Farallon Islands in the US and Isla Guadalupe, Isla Benito del Este and Isla Cedros in Mexico. Some breeding has been observed at Castle Rock in Northern California and Shell Island off Oregon and in January, 2009 the first elephant seal births were recorded in British Columbia at Race Rocks. The California breeding population is now demographically isolated from the population in Baja California.

Notes:

On the California coast in San Simeon (below Hearst Castle) there is great viewing of the Northern Elephant Seal.