Elephant Seals:

Mirounga angustirostris

This is a newborn elephant seal, born December 24, 2003 at Piedras Blancas, a newly established (1990) elephant seal colony near San Simeon, CA.

For more information on this colony, visit Friends of the elephant seal.

Download an article about this colony published in "Breach This!", the American Cetacean Society newsletter.
Elephant seals are the largest of the pinnipeds, weighing in at 2000 pounds (females) and up to 6000 pounds for males. They spend a majority of their time at sea, but like all pinnipeds, they must come on shore to breed. Breeding season for the elephant seals is December through March, with males returning to land in early December to establish a dominance hierarchy. A scarred, calloused chest is evidence of intense battles between males. Very few males mate during any given season, guarding their harem of up to 50 females intensely.

Females give birth about a year after mating, although gestation time of the developing fetus is only 9 months! Delayed implantation of the embryo ensures that females will give birth at the same time of year every year. This allows males to predict when the females will be on land so they can mate with them again the next year. Newborn pups are weaned after about 27 days, then females are ready to mate again. The pup, meanwhile, is left on its own to learn to swim and catch fish. One of the the best places to view elephant seals is at Ano Nuevo Point along the San Mateo County coast. A reservation is required during breeding season, but the molting season (June through August) is open to visitors and free.

Below is a short video taken at Piedras Blancas on December 24, 2003, showing male elephant seals fighting for dominance, mating with females, and a newborn pup nursing.

Elephant Seal Video --- 21 MB--Be patient!