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The northern elephant seal population was estimated to be 171,000 in 2005. [ 1 ] Beginning in the 18th century, northern elephant seals were hunted extensively, almost to extinction by the end of the 19th century, being prized for oil made from their blubber , and the population may have fallen as low as only 20-40 individuals. [ 1 ]
Elephant seals or sea elephants are very large, oceangoing earless seals in the genus Mirounga.Both species, the northern elephant seal (M. angustirostris) and the southern elephant seal (M. leonina), were hunted to the brink of extinction for lamp oil by the end of the 19th century, but their numbers have since recovered.
Southern elephant seal harem on a beach on the Kerguelen Islands. Southern elephant seal world population was estimated at 650,000 in the mid-1990s, [1] and was estimated in 2005 at between 664,000 and 740,000. [18] Studies have shown the existence of three geographic subpopulations, one in each of the three oceans.
Elephant seals can reach over 13 feet in length and can weigh 4,400 pounds, or 2.2 tons, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. They typically live about 19 years.
IUCN status and estimated population Ribbon seal. H. fasciata (Zimmermann, 1783) Arctic and subarctic regions of the North Pacific Ocean (blue indicates reduced summer range) Size: 165–175 cm (65–69 in) long; 72–90 kg (159–198 lb) [31] Habitat: Neritic marine and oceanic marine [32] Diet: Fish, crustaceans, and other invertebrates [32] LC
Seals range in size from the 1 m (3 ft 3 in) and 45 kg (100 lb) Baikal seal to the 5 m (16 ft) and 3,200 kg (7,100 lb) southern elephant seal. Several species exhibit sexual dimorphism . They have streamlined bodies and four limbs that are modified into flippers .
There’s a reason the male elephant seals lounging on the sand look a bit ratty. Bull elephant seals take over SLO County beaches. How will they spend the rest of summer?
The skull of the leopard seal. The leopard seal has a distinctively long and muscular body shape when compared to other seals. The overall length of adults is 2.4–3.5 m (7.9–11.5 ft) and their weight is in the range 200 to 600 kilograms (440 to 1,320 lb), making them the same length as the northern walrus but usually less than half the weight.