Southern elephant seal
Mirounga leonina
- Scientific name
- Mirounga leonina
- Group
- Marine mammals
- Rarity
- Epic
- Where to see it
- Cold / polar waters
- Conservation status (IUCN)
- Least concern
Did you know?
The southern elephant seal is one of the deepest-diving marine mammals, sometimes exceeding 2,000 meters to hunt squid and fish. Males, much larger than females, fight fiercely to control a harem during the breeding season.
What defines this group — Marine mammals
Warm-blooded, they nurse their young and breathe air — the group closest to us underwater.
- They breathe through a blowhole (whales, dolphins) or nostrils (seals, sea lions).
- A thick layer of blubber, rather than fur, insulates them from the cold.
- Many navigate and hunt by sound, using echolocation.