Elephant seals aren’t named for their size. Rather, the males develop noses that kind of look like elephants’ trunks. They inflate their noses in order to scare other males away — to mate, they have to fight for dominance.
What is an elephant seals nose called?
Elephant seals got their name because adult males have large noses that resemble an elephant’s trunk. Males begin developing this enlarged nose, or proboscis, at sexual maturity, which is at about three to five years old. Their proboscis is fully developed once the seal reaches around 7 to 9 years old.
Why do elephant seals sneeze so much?
While they sleep on land, elephant seals will often stop breathing. Known as sleep apnea, periods without breathing can last up to twenty minutes. So, to open their nostrils, they must sneeze or snort them open.
Why do male and female elephant seals look different?
Males and females are so different in size and appearance that they may not be recognized as members of the same species. The differences in form between females and males of the same species is called sexual dimorphism. Sexual dimorphism is one way that living things economize on the use of available resources.
Why do elephant seals stink?
Between the molting, the bodily waste, and the decomposing bodies of seals that didn’t survive, one can guess why the colony smells so bad.
Are elephant seals in danger of becoming extinct today?
Today, elephant seals are not in danger of becoming extinct. This is because laws are now in place to protect their populations. You may also read,
What’s bigger a walrus or an elephant seal?
Among the most amazing of pinnipeds are the elephant seals. … These seals are famous for being big. They are the biggest of pinnipeds – bigger even than walruses – there being a record of a giant male Southern elephant seal that was between 6.5 and 6.8 m long and weighed over 4000 kg (Carwardine 1995). Check the answer of
Are elephant seals aggressive?
Males battle each other for mating dominance. Some encounters end with roaring and aggressive posturing, but many others turn into violent and bloody battles. Sea elephants, as these seals are sometimes called, give birth in late winter to a single pup and nurse it for approximately a month.
Why do elephant have big noses?
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Are seals friendly?
Are seals friendly? Seals are intelligent animals capable of forming social attachments. However, seals encountered on beaches are wild animals that are not accustomed to people and dogs, and they could become aggressive when approached.
How long can an elephant seal hold its breath?
But champion divers, such as elephant seals, can hold their breath for about two hours. “It was known that they rely on internal oxygen stores when they’re down there,” said Michael Berenbrink, a zoologist at the University of Liverpool, England, who specializes in how animals function.
How fast can elephant seals move on land?
How fast can southern elephant seals travel? Southern elephant seals can move along the ground at about 5 kph (3 mph) while on land. While swimming, southern elephant seals move at speeds around 5 – 10 kph (3 – 6 mph).
Do elephant seals eat sharks?
Elephant seals are top predators — of fish and squid. But they in turn are prey to even bigger predators: great white sharks and orcas.
What do elephant seals eat in Antarctica?
After breeding or moulting, southern elephant seals migrate south to Antarctica to feed on squid and fish at the edge of the sea-ice. They travel long distances to their foraging areas. Males forage mainly on the Antarctic continental shelf.
How do elephant seals defend themselves?
As a last resort when grabbed by a predator, seals will bite and thrash to defend themselves. In the case of male seals, such as elephant seals protecting a territory from competing males, the two will battle by biting and slamming their necks against each other.
