#0251 · 🦊 mammals

Northern Elephant Seal

🇳🇱 Noordelijke Zeeolifant ·Mirounga angustirostris

LCleast concern 🦊 Mammals 📍 outside Europe

10 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

what is it?

The northern elephant seal ( Mirounga angustirostris ) is one of two species of elephant seal (the other is the southern elephant seal). It is a member of the family Phocidae ("true seals"). Elephant seals derive their name from their great size and from the male's large proboscis, which is used in making extraordinarily loud roaring noises, especially during the mating competition. Sexual dimorphism in size is great: The males can grow to 14 ft (4 m) and 5,000 lb (2,300 kg),...

base stats

NL sightings 0iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 12,755iNaturalist observations
threat LCleast concern

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

No confirmed wild sightings in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: you'd have to travel for this one.
12,755 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named by Theodore Nicholas Gill in 1866 (160 years ago).