Elephant Seals On The Channel Islands National Sanctuary

Elephant Seals On The Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary.

Credit: NOAA Fisheries
Wikipedia
NPS
NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration
Courtesy of: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a Federal Agency of the U.S. Department
of Commerce.

Footage of elephant seals in the wild in the Channel Islands National Marine Sanctuary. Footage includes general rookery behavior, male sparring, courting, mating, and nursing on San Miguel Island.

The elephant seal is one of four species of pinniped (or "wing or feather-footed") marine mammals. Channel Islands National Park and Marine Sanctuary provide habitat for significant breeding populations of four species of pinnipeds (California sea lions, northern fur seals, harbor seals and northern elephant seals).

The northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris, is the second largest seal in the world. It is surpassed only by its relative the southern elephant seal. Due to its unique body structure, this mammal is an excellent swimmer and diver. Male elephant seals can be easily identified by their large proboscis, which resembles an elephant’s trunk (and is the source of their name). This impressive pinniped relies upon the Channel Islands National Park as an important part of its life cycle. San Miguel, Santa Barbara, and Santa Rosa islands all provide critical habitat. 

Northern elephant seals are large and imposing, with significant differences in size and shape between sexes (sexual dimorphism). In both sexes, the body is long and robust, and the neck very thick. Adult males may grow to over 13 feet in length and weigh up to 5,000 pounds while females are smaller, growing up to 10 feet and weighing up to 1,700 pounds.

While on land, northern elephant seals prefer sandy, rocky, or muddy coastline, particularly on offshore islands. They typically aggregate in large groups while on land. These animals spend only 10% of their time on land, returning to reproduce and molt. The other 90% is spent in the water, diving and foraging for food, with only 11% of this time spent at the surface. 

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