Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina). Female seal calling,by her two-week-old pup. Female (cow) elephant seals lack the trunk-like proboscis found on the males,which gives the seal its name. The southern elephant seal spends 10 months of the year diving to forage for food,which mainly consists of squid. Females can reach up to 3 metres in length and weigh up to 875 kilogrammes. During the breeding season,groups of up to 50 females congregate to form harems. They give birth to one pup that is breast fed for six weeks,but which stays with its mother until it can feed itself. Photographed on Signy Island,Orkney Islands,British Antarctic Territory | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / Allan, Doug |
Bildgröße: | 4588 px × 3110 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |