The southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) is one of two species of elephant seals. It is the largest member of the clade Pinnipedia and the order Carnivora, as well as the largest extant marine mammal that is not a cetacean. It gets its name from its massive size and the large proboscis of the adult male, which is used to produce very loud roars, especially during the breeding season. A bull southern elephant seal is about more than twice the weight of a male northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) as large sub-adult southern elephant seals have weighed 3 tons, as well as more than twice the weight of a male Pacific walrus (Odobenus rosmarus divergens).
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Southern Elephant Seal being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Mirounga angustirostris
- Leptonychotes weddellii
- Odobenus rosmarus
- Neomonachus schauinslandi
- Hydrurga leptonyx
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Carnivora
- Family
- Phocidae
- Genus
- Mirounga
- Species
- Mirounga leonina
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