Southern Elephant Seal

Identification

The southern elephant seal is the largest member of the order Carnivora and the largest extant marine mammal that is not a cetacean. Adult males are distinctive for their massive bulk and prominent proboscis—an enlarged snout used to produce extremely loud roars, particularly during breeding season. A bull southern elephant seal is approximately 40% heavier than a male northern elephant seal and nearly twice the weight of a male walrus.

This species exhibits extraordinary sexual dimorphism in terms of mass ratio, among the greatest of any mammal. Adult females typically weigh 350 to 900 kg and measure 2.6 to 3 metres long, while bulls range from 1,500 to 3,700 kg and grow to 4.2 to 5.8 metres in length—making males four to five times heavier than females on average. Southern elephant seals are distinguished from their northern cousins by greater body mass and a shorter proboscis. They possess large, round, black eyes with high concentrations of low-light pigments, reflecting the importance of sight in hunting. Young pups are born completely black with fur unsuited to water but excellent for insulation; after moulting, coats typically turn grey and brown. Older males develop thick, scarred leather-like skin.

Range & Habitat

The southern elephant seal inhabits subantarctic waters across three ocean basins, with a global population estimated between 664,000 and 740,000 individuals. Three distinct geographic subpopulations exist: the largest in the South Atlantic with over 400,000 individuals, including approximately 113,000 breeding females on South Georgia; a second subpopulation of up to 200,000 in the south Indian Ocean, primarily in the Kerguelen Islands; and a third of about 75,000 in the subantarctic Pacific, mainly around Macquarie Island south of Tasmania and New Zealand.

While elephant seals occasionally rest or mate in Antarctica, they gather to breed in subantarctic locations. Their main feeding area is at the edge of the Antarctic continent. Atlantic breeding colonies occur on Gough Island, the Falkland Islands, and Valdes Peninsula in Argentina—the only continental breeding population. The species is currently re-colonizing its former Chilean range, having been sighted at locations such as the Toltén River mouth and Caicura Islets in the 2010s.

Behaviour & Diet

Southern elephant seals are highly adapted marine mammals with specialised hunting abilities. Their large eyes and the high concentration of low-light pigments suggest that vision plays an important role in capturing prey. Their hind limbs are specially adapted for aquatic locomotion, with five long, webbed fingers that propel water with agility, though the pectoral fins are used minimally during swimming.

On land, while their hind limbs are unsuited for conventional locomotion, elephant seals can propel themselves across terrain at speeds up to 8 km/h using their fins as support. They employ this capability for short-distance travel, returning to water, approaching females, or confronting intruders. During breeding season, males produce extremely loud roars from their distinctive proboscis, with southern bulls appearing taller than their northern counterparts when fighting due to their tendency to bend their backs more strongly.

Best Time & Places to See It

The most accessible locations for viewing southern elephant seals are South Georgia in the South Atlantic, which hosts the largest Atlantic subpopulation with approximately 113,000 breeding females, and Macquarie Island in the subantarctic Pacific. The Kerguelen Islands in the Indian Ocean represent another significant viewing destination, hosting three-quarters of that ocean basin's population.

Breeding season represents the most dramatic time to encounter these seals, when males gather to breed in subantarctic colonies and produce their characteristic loud roars. The Falkland Islands and Valdes Peninsula in Argentina also provide opportunities to view this species, with Valdes offering the unique distinction of being the only continental breeding location.

Photography Tips

The extreme size differences between males and females create compelling compositional opportunities. Photograph bulls during breeding season to capture their distinctive proboscis and the dramatic posturing and roaring behaviour. The scarred, thick leather skin of older males provides striking textural detail under direct light.

Young pups, born completely black, offer excellent contrast photography against snow and ice. Their transformation during the first moulting—when coats shift to grey and brown tones—provides a dynamic visual narrative. The large, round black eyes of all seals are particularly expressive; use shallow depth of field to capture these striking features. Since elephant seals can move at up to 8 km/h on land, anticipate their movements and position yourself to capture their propulsion using their fins as support.