Southern Elephant Seal Pup
by Peter Scoones/science Photo Library
Title
Southern Elephant Seal Pup
Artist
Peter Scoones/science Photo Library
Medium
Photograph - Photograph
Description
Southern elephant seal pup (Mirounga leonina) in a stream. A southern elephant seal pup is born after a gestation period of around 8 months. It gains several kilograms of body weight per day for the 20-23 days it is fed on its mother's milk. After the pup is weaned, its mother leaves it on shore and returns to the sea. The pup will follow to feed after several more weeks on land. The southern elephant seal lives in the open waters of the Southern Ocean around Antarctica, coming ashore only to breed, give birth and to moult. It feeds on fish and squid, often diving deep below the surface to catch its prey. Photographed on the island of South Georgia.
Uploaded
September 25th, 2018
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