Pictures of Elephant Seals Molting

It is believe that male and female actually eat different prey. The male diet is has more variety. He’ll eat small sharks, rays, and bottom dwelling fish. The female diet is much more selective. They eat mostly squid. Males tend to search for food along the continental shelf. The females travel more into open ocean.

Southern Elephant Seal Diet

Southern Elephant Seals will eat large fishes, squid and an occasional penguin. The Elephant Seal can five thousands of feet deep and hold their breath for two hours in search for prey.

Northern Elephant Seal Diet

A major part of the Northern Elephant Seal’s diet are Cephalopods. They also eat: whiting, rays, sharks, skates, and pelagic red crabs.

Pictures of Elephant Seals

The Northern Elephant Seals were hunted nearly to extinction. This started at the start of the 1700’s and lasted until the end of the 19th century. They were hunted for a form of oil that you can make from their blubber. During this hunting period, the population dropped drastically. They’ve done a great job recovering though.

Differences Between Northern and Southern Elephant Seals

The Northern Elephant Seal is slightly smaller than the Southern Elephant Seal. The Northern Elephant Seal is still a huge animal, it may weight 5,000 pounds and can grow up to 16 feet long

Location of the Northern Elephant Seal

It is known to live in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. It migrates far north into Alaska and British Columbia. Although they live much of their life at sea and under water, they come ashore during mating season. They come ashore when they breed, give birth, or molt

Please check out the image to see a map of the locations of the Northern Elephant Seal.

If you need more information on Elephant Seal, that is not already included, please let us know. Than you for visiting, and check back in the future.