ELEPHANT SEAL Definition & Meaning

elephant seal

[ el-uh-fuhnt seel ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

either of two large earless seals of the genus Mirounga, specifically M. angustirostris northern elephant seal of the Pacific coast of North America and M. leonina southern elephant seal of the Southern Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean, both species noted for a curved proboscis resembling an elephant's trunk: the largest living carnivorans, weighing up to 11,000 pounds (5,000 kilograms).

elephant seal

noun

either of two large earless seals, Mirounga leonina of southern oceans or M. angustirostris of the N Atlantic, the males of which have a long trunklike snout

Discover More

�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of elephant seal¹

First recorded in 1835–45

Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"It's heavily colonised by penguins and elephant seals and all kinds of sea birds," said Prof Coffin, who studies the undersea geography of the islands.

From

Whales and elephant seals glide through the shimmering water, while bears and mountain lions patrol the misty headlands.

From

A whale-watching tour got the photo opportunity of a lifetime when they spotted a rare white shark feeding from an elephant seal about 30 miles west of Santa Barbara.

From

The organization rescues and rehabilitates sea lions and elephant seal pups.

From

Some marine mammals have been hit particularly hard, with mass mortality events reported in elephant seals and sea lions.

From

Browse