Elephant seals in Antarctica are a incredible sight to behold on any journey to Antarctica and one of many region’s most distinctive and recognisable species. One in every of j6fartjm9.image-perth.org/10-details-about-elephant-seals-chimu-adventures-blog our favourite species is the Elephant Seal, here are some fun facts about these magnificent creatures and the atmosphere they inhabit. An Antarctic cruise is an icy safari, with many various species of animals to observe. Females are smaller and weigh round 7 - 800 kg. An adult male Elephant seal can weigh up to five tonnes and measure up to six and a half metres! Elephant seal infants when born weigh around 50 kilograms. Inside three months they are going to weigh 150kg! Pups are generally born from September to October when their mothers come ashore at their berthing beaches around the continent. The gestation period for a feminine Elephant seal is 9 months. Elephant seals are highly social animals and type giant teams or harems for a month through the breeding season. Elephants seals are among the most important carnivores on the planet eating squid and fish as the primary sources of food in their weight loss program, and have been measured diving up to up to 2000m deep and might hold breath for up to 2 hours! Sexual dimorphism is a physical difference between the male and feminine of a species. Males could also be up to ten instances the load of reproductive females. Elephant seals could be found across the Antarctic region, however are most prevalent across the Antarctic Peninsula and sub-Antarctic islands. They have been hunted for his or her blubber through the sealing days. Only 2 - three % of male Elephant seals actually breed. London alone used 20,000 tonnes of elephant seal oil to mild the town a yr. These animals have grown from a small group of animals, and do lack genetic variety, so there are still concerns over the longer term of those animals. However, from a small group of animals left, there at the moment are an estimated inhabitants of 150,000 which stay mainly across the Baja Gulf in Mexico and on the shores of Southern California, USA. Their most important predator is the Orca, and within the northern most a part of their range.. Large sharks. Leopard seals have also been known to assault and kill stray young. They are called elephant seals attributable to various reasons, partly due to their dimension and likewise partly because of the male snout or trunk that inflates to impress and intimidate rivals when competing with different males for his harem. The depth and quantity of the sound is a demonstration to others how powerful he is, and thus so avoids fights with competing males. The trunk is inflated with air which is inhaled and thus a loud bellowing sound is produced. Enjoy the majestic Elephant seal on a cruise to Antarctica, but keep your distance - despite their size they can transfer quick on land, and are highly aggressive when protecting their territory and young. Generally they don't seem to be afraid of man, however if disturbed whereas resting, reproducing or marking territory they are often a different proposition. Keep clear as per most wildlife you encounter on your cruise. Regardless of as soon as being on the endangered record, due to the safety of the Antarctic treaty, the Southern Elephant seal is now not in any speedy danger. Because of Dr Mikolaj Golachowski for serving to put this collectively. However, over-fishing of Antarctic waters and human actions might in the future see some points with their native habitat. Dr. Miko was a lecturer on-board our last PinkTarctica Antarctic expedition to the Peninsula and is a leading knowledgeable on Elephant seals and their behaviour. Dr. Mikolaj is a native of Poland, and was base commander of the Polish base on the Antarctic Peninsula for a number of seasons.