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The Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina is one of two species of elephant seal (the other is the Northern Elephant Seal). It is a member of the family Phocidae or "true seals".

The elephant seals get their name from their great size and the fact that the adult males have a large proboscis, which is used in making extraordinarily loud roaring noises, especially during the mating season. Males can attain lengths up to 6.5 metres and weights up to 4 tonnes. There is a great sexual dimorphismSexual dimorphism is the systematic difference in form between individuals of different sex in the same species. For example, in some species, including many mammals, the male is larger than the female. In others, such as some spiders, the female is large in size, with the males very much bigger than the females (they are called bulls and cows), and correspondingly there is a highly polygynous mating system, with a successful male able to impregnate up to 40 females in one season.

Southern Elephant Seals are found throughout the Sub-Antarctic regions, coming ashore to breed in the summer but wintering at sea. They used to live in large numbers around TasmaniaTasmania State flag ( In detail) Coat of Arms ( Full size) Capital Hobart Governor William Cox (Acting Governor) Premier Paul Lennon Area — Land — Marine — Total 68 401 km² 22 357 km² 90 758 km² Population(Sep 2003) Density 478 400 6. 92/km² Time zone UTC, but were wiped out by the sealingSealing may mean: The Mormon doctrine and practice of binding couples and families for life and eternity in temples: see Sealing (Mormonism). Hunting seals Affixing a seal; or to certify by seal to prove authenticity or attest to the accuracy of some stan industry and are now only seen there a few times a year. They are occasionally seen off the coasts of New ZealandFor alternative meanings, see New Zealand (disambiguation). New Zealand is a country formed of two major islands and a number of smaller islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. A common Mori name for New Zealand is Aotearoa popularly translated as Land and South AfricaSouth Africa is a republic at the southern tip of Africa. It is bordered to the north by Namibia, Botswana and Zimbabwe, to the north-east by Mozambique and Swaziland. Lesotho is contained entirely inside the borders of South Africa. South Africa is one o. They breed on the subantarctic islands, with the population at South Georgia being the largest (it includes about half of the entire species population). Other important populations are at Macquarie Island (over 80,000 individuals), Heard Island and the Kerguelen Islands. After the near extinction due to hunting in the 19th century, total population is about 600,000, but all the populations seem to be declining at present. The reasons for this are unclear, but it may simply be that once protection from hunting was established, the species recovered so fast that it overshot its equilibrium numbers.

Elephant seals feed in deep water, and can dive to great depths, up to 1700 metres. Dives lasting up to two hours have been recorded. They feed on cephalopods such as squid and cuttlefish, and large fish including sharks. When at sea, they spend a high proportion of their time underwater, and they only need to spend a few minutes on the surface between dives.