Southern+Elephant+Seal

Animal: Animal Group: Description of animal group || Southern Elephant Seal (Mirounga leonina) Order: Pinniped. Family: Phocidae Pinnipeds are aquatic mammals such as seals, sea lions and walruses. Elephant seals are the largest of the pinnipeds || Observation Describe your animal (Colour, size, body parts) || Elephant seals have strong front flippers to help with walking. They have silvery-brown skin and square-shaped heads. The male Elephant seal is much larger than the female. The male is 20 feet and the female is 10. Male Elephant seal has a trunk-like proboscis and is rather fat. || Describe how your animal behaves (moves, flies, runs) || The Elephant seal is a powerful swimmer but has difficulty moving on land because of their huge bulk. The Elephant seal is very territorial. || Where it lives || The southern elephant seal lives in the rocky beaches in Antarctica. Some of the elephant seals live on the beaches of Africa. || What it eats How it eats || The Elephant seal eats fish, squid and the occasional penguin. The Elephant seal often eats its prey in the water, taking huge bites. Elephant seals dive deep for food, the main foraging areas are located in Antarctic waters. || How does it have babies? How does it care for its babies? How long do they live? || In August each year, southern elephant seals return from the open ocean to their breeding grounds to give birth and mate. The beach master is the master of the beach and will fight off any male that enters his part of the beach but will mate with any cow that enters. Pups are born during the southern summer and grow very quickly on their mother's rich 50% fat milk in about 3 weeks they have quadrupled their weight. The female Elephant seal lives for about 20 years and the males live for about 14 years. || What does it do during the day and night? || The southern elephant seal spends long periods on land in spring and summer for the breeding season. During that time they often go without food. The rest of the time they are in the ocean - spending about 80 percent of their lives there. || How has it changed over time in Antarctica ||  ||
 * __**Classification**__
 * Source 1: || The Australian Encyclopaedia. Published by Grolier. 1977 ||
 * Source 2: || http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/wildlife/SEALS/s_elephant.shtml ||
 * __**Description**__
 * Source 1: || The Australian Encyclopaedia. Published by Grolier. 1977 ||
 * Source 2: || http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/wildlife/SEALS/s_elephant.shtml ||
 * **__Movement:__**
 * Source 1: || http://www.antarcticconnection.com/antarctic/wildlife/SEALS/s_elephant.shtml ||
 * Source 2: || [] ||
 * **__Habitat:__**
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 * **__Feeding Habits:__**
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 * **__Breeding Habits:__**
 * Source 1: || http://www.animalcorner.co.uk/marine/seals/seal_elephant.html ||
 * Source 2: || [] ||
 * **__Activity:__**
 * Source 1: || http://www.animalcorner.co.uk/marine/seals/seal_elephant.html ||
 * Source 2: || [|ttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Elephant_Seal] ||
 * **Adaptations:**
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 * **Threats:** || Southern elephant seals threats are: Man, Orca and loss of food. ||
 * Source 1: || http://www.arkive.org/southern-elephant-seal/mirounga-leonina/threats-and-conservation.htm ||
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 * **Other Facts:** ||  ||
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