1. There Are Two Types Of Elephant Seals
Northern elephant seals (Mirounga angustirostris) are widespread from Alaska to Mexico, and you might come across a colony of them on any beach you visit. Although males of this species have longer trunks, they are the smaller of the two species overall. To see southern elephant seals, you’ll have to go south of the equator (Mirounga leonina).
2. Males Have Huge, Inflatable Snouts
A male elephant seal has a huge nose, and the accompanying sack-like appendage known as a proboscis makes him stand out from a female. Extending their probosci, elephant seals may make various sounds, including snorts, grunts, and drum-like booms, which are audible from great distances.
3. Males Are Big Enough To Crush Vehicle
A southern elephant seal named Homer is reputed to enjoy turning parked vehicles into scrap metal. Homer is 14 feet long and weighs 4,500 pounds. In May of 2000, Homer suddenly surfaced from the depths and began destroying cars, boat trailers, trees, and whatever else was in his path. This led to him being shown on news broadcasts worldwide and giving him a modicum of notoriety. Even worse, he walked up to a local restaurant, nonchalantly smashed the external transformer, and cut off all electricity to the establishment. He has a real thing for cars, and when his two tons brush up against one, it makes a tiny mark. The best case scenario is that he goes back to the sub-Antarctic in search of female companionship.
4. Alpha Male’s Main Duty Is Breeding
Two-year research conducted by scientists in the Falkland Islands focused on a single large colony. Harem masters have been seen to give birth to as many as 125 offspring, and dominant males fathered an astounding 90% of all observed pups. However, just 72% of male subordinates were witnessed mating. A “harem master” is the dominant bull inside a colony who attracts and keeps numerous females for himself. After that, until he is “dethroned” by a challenger, he has virtually unrestricted access to their reproductive systems.
5. Southern Elephant Seals Are Huge
Pinnipeds are a superorder that includes marine mammals like sea lions, seals, and walruses. In contrast to the bulk of other marine mammals like whales and dugongs, these animals can also survive on land. They come up out of the water to do things like sleep, molt, get hitched, and have babies. There are 33 species of pinnipeds known to exist, with southern elephant seals being the largest. A large individual can grow to a length of 20 feet and a weight of 8800 pounds.
6. Male Elephant Seals Are Much Larger Than Females
If you compare a female southern elephant seal to a bull that weighs 4.5 tons, the female will look little. Males often grow to be up to eight times heavier and two times as long as females. The plight of northern elephant seals is similar but not as dire. The largest males can reach a length of about 13 feet and a weight of about 4500 pounds, whereas the largest females reach a length of about 3 feet less and a weight of about 3000 pounds less.
7. They Can Dive A Mile Or More Deep
In 2012, marine researchers witnessed a northern female dive an incredible 5788 feet beneath the surface. The elephant seal is a master breath-holder and can swim for as long as two hours without surface time.
8. Enemy Males Recognize One Another By Their Noises
The proboscis’s principal function is to make alarm calls to scare away rival males and prevent fights from breaking out. With time, a hierarchy of men emerges, but it seems that a bull is unable to rise very far until he’s launched a few threats of his own. Researchers have been stationed near the beaches of Ao Nuevo State Park since 2009. Over loudspeakers, they replayed recordings of the alarm calls made by certain guys who were known to visit the area.
9. They Can Go Long Periods Without Drinking Water
Whenever an elephant seal is on land, it may go days or even weeks without drinking. To avoid dehydrating, their kidneys produce concentrated urine, containing less water but more waste.
10. Elephant Seals Have Done Some Voice Acting
In The Fellowship of the Ring, the scrawny orcs of Moria utter a terrible battle cry. The sound effects creator took cues for the aquatic-themed cries of the elephant seal pups from various sources. The unique noise can reverberate effectively; therefore, it was called “a great projecting call.” There are no elephant seals to be found in the “Drums in the deep” of the Moria mines. The pinnipeds make additional noises throughout the trilogy. Strong Uruk orcs’ vocalizations resemble those of sea lions, especially under agony, and those of tigers and leopards, respectively, suggesting that these predators served as inspiration for their savage attacks.
