{"elementGlobalId":105540,"circumscripConfidence":{"id":1,"circumscripConfidenceDescEn":"1 - Strong","circumscripConfidenceDescEs":"1 - Fuerte","circumscripConfidenceDescFr":"1 – Forte"},"classificationLevel":{"id":7,"classificationLevelNameEn":"Species","classificationLevelNameEs":"Especies","classificationLevelNameFr":"Espèce"},"classificationStatus":{"id":1,"classificationStatusDescEn":"Standard","classificationStatusDescEs":"Estándar","classificationStatusDescFr":"Standard"},"iucn":{"id":11,"iucnDescEn":"Least concern","iucnDescEs":"Menos preocupante","iucnDescFr":"Moins préoccupante","iucnCode":"LC"},"nameCategory":{"id":1,"nameCategoryDescEn":"Vertebrate Animal","nameCategoryDescEs":"Animal vertebrado","nameCategoryDescFr":"Animal vertébré","nameTypeCd":"A","nameTypeDesc":"Zoological"},"rankMethodUsed":{"id":4,"rankMethodUsedDescEn":"Expertise without calculation","rankMethodUsedDescEs":null,"rankMethodUsedDescFr":null,"rankMethodUsedExternalDescEn":"Ranked by inspection","rankMethodUsedExternalDescEs":null,"rankMethodUsedExternalDescFr":null},"formattedScientificName":"<i>Mirounga angustirostris</i>","scientificName":"Mirounga angustirostris","scientificNameAuthor":"(Gill, 1866)","primaryCommonName":"Northern Elephant Seal","relatedItisNames":"<i>Mirounga angustirostris</i> (Gill, 1866) (TSN 180672)","uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105540","elcode":"AMAJG06010","conceptRefFullCitation":"Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.","conceptName":"<i>Mirounga angustirostris</i>","taxonomicComments":null,"roundedGRank":"G5","conservationStatusFactorsEditionDate":"2010-02-02","conservationStatusFactorsEditionAuthors":"Hammerson, G.","primaryCommonNameLanguage":"EN","recordType":"SPECIES","elementNationals":[{"elementNationalId":165382,"classifConfidence":null,"nation":{"id":38,"nameEn":"Canada","nameEs":"Canadá","nameFr":"Canada","isoCode":"CA","region":"Canada"},"roundedNRank":"N1B,N5N","elementSubnationals":[{"elementSubnationalId":269656,"subnation":{"id":61,"nameEn":"British Columbia","nameEs":"Columbia Británica","nameFr":"Colombie-Britannique","subnationCode":"BC","dnationId":38},"roundedSRank":"S1B,S4N","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"S1B,S4N","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":269656,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}}],"nrankReviewYear":2024,"nrank":"N1B,N5N","speciesNational":{"elementNationalId":165382,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementNationalId":163934,"classifConfidence":null,"nation":{"id":225,"nameEn":"United States","nameEs":"Estados Unidos","nameFr":"États-Unis","isoCode":"US","region":"United States"},"roundedNRank":"N4","elementSubnationals":[{"elementSubnationalId":332859,"subnation":{"id":1,"nameEn":"Alaska","nameEs":"Alaska","nameFr":"Alaska","subnationCode":"AK","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"S4","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"S4","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":332859,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":339068,"subnation":{"id":7,"nameEn":"California","nameEs":"California","nameFr":"Californie","subnationCode":"CA","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"SNR","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"SNR","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":339068,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":342107,"subnation":{"id":44,"nameEn":"Oregon","nameEs":"Oregón","nameFr":"Oregon","subnationCode":"OR","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"SNA","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"SNA","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":342107,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}}],"nrankReviewYear":1997,"nrank":"N4","speciesNational":{"elementNationalId":163934,"exotic":false,"native":true}}],"lastModified":"2026-10-02T21:46:03.677069Z","lastPublished":"2026-10-02T21:32:08.892226Z","promotionalDescription":null,"conceptLineageSummary":null,"nsxUrl":"/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.105540/Mirounga_angustirostris","grankAdjustmentReasons":null,"grankChangeDate":"1996-11-19","grankReviewDate":"2016-04-04","grankReasons":null,"grank":"G5","rankInfo":{"elementGlobalId":105540,"aooPercentGood":null,"enviromentalSpecificity":null,"intrinsicVulnerability":null,"longTermTrend":null,"numberEos":null,"numberGoodEos":null,"numberProtEos":null,"popSize":{"id":33,"popSizeDescEn":"10,000 to >1,000,000 individuals","popSizeDescEs":"De 10.000 a >1.000.000 de individuos","popSizeDescFr":"De 10 000 à >1 000 000 individus"},"rangeExtent":null,"shortTermTrend":{"id":44,"shortTermTrendDescEn":"Increase of >10%","shortTermTrendDescEs":"Aumento de >10%.","shortTermTrendDescFr":"Augmentation de >10 %"},"threatImpactAssigned":null,"rangeExtentComments":"Northern elephant seals range widely in the North Pacific (regularly north to British Columbia), with males ranging farther north (as far as Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands) than females. Breeding sites are distributed on islands and the mainland from the central Baja California coast north to California, including islas Guadalupe, San Benito, Cedros, Natividad (few), San Martin (few), and Coronado (few) in Mexico; and Santa Barbara, San Nicolas, San Miguel, Santa Rosa, San Clemente (few), Ano Nuevo, and Southeast Farallon islands, and Ano Nuevo Point, Point Reyes, and Piedras Balncas, in the United States; recently, pupping was observed at Shell Island, Oregon (Hodder et al. 1998). Largest breeding colony is on Guadalupe Island off Baja. Has strayed to Midway Island, Hawaii (Tomich 1986) and to a small island near Japan.","areaOfOccupancy":null,"areaOfOccupancyComments":null,"numberEosComments":null,"popSizeComments":"Total population in the early 1990s was about 127,000.","viabilityComments":null,"threatImpactComments":null,"shortTermTrendComments":"Nearly hunted to extinction; population has increased from no more than 100 in late 1800s to 80,000 in 1984 and 127,000 in 1991 (Stewart and Huber 1993). In 1991, more than 21,000 pups were born at California rookeries, about 85% of them on San Nicolas and San Miguel islands (Reeves et al. 1992). In the mid-1990s, the California population was increasing and the Mexican population was apparently stable or decreasing (NMFS, Federal Register, 15 March 1996). See Cooper and Stewart (1983), Bodkin et al. (1985), and Stewart and Huber (1993) for discussion of increase.","longTermTrendComments":null,"inventoryNeeds":null,"numberProtEosComments":null,"protectionNeeds":null,"otherConsiderations":null,"intrinsicVulnerabilityComments":null,"enviromentalSpecificityComments":null},"animalCharacteristics":{"elementGlobalId":105540,"majorHabitat":{"id":1,"majorHabitatDescEn":"Marine","majorHabitatDescEs":"Marino","majorHabitatDescFr":"Marine"},"nonMigrant":false,"localMigrant":true,"longDistanceMigrant":true,"mobilityMigrationComments":"Elephant seals make protracted migrations between breeding/molting areas and feeding grounds; over a period of 12 months, they migrate from breeding areas to feeding areas then back to breeding areas (to molt) then back to feeding areas and finally back to breeding areas (to breed); over a year, the distance traveled is about 20,000 km (Stewart and DeLong 1995). From San Miguel Island, adult females move to feeding areas at latitudes of but far away from Oregon and Washington; adult males move north to Alaska when not breeding or molting (Stewart and DeLong 1995). Many weaned pups leave breeding grounds in April, diperse north as far as Vancouver Island, return to central California coast in September. Young from southern California rookeries may move north to central California, return to island of birth to molt in spring of next year.","foodHabitsComments":"Eats cephalopods, Pacific hake and other teleosts, various cartilaginous fishes, and jawless fishes (Condit and Le Boeuf 1984). Preys mostly on mesopelagic squid; also apparently feeds commonly on bottom in deep water; commonly dives to several hundred meters. Males do not feed during breeding season.<br><br>Northern elephant seals are exceptional divers. When foraging on fishes and squid, they sometimes dive deeper than 1,500 meters and can remain submerged for 1-2 hours. After weaning her pup, a female goes to sea and spends 83-90% of her time underwater.","animalPhenologyComments":"Adult females and juveniles return to shore to molt in April-May. Males return to beaches to molt in late spring and summer. After molting, seals go to sea again to feed before returning once again to the breeding beaches.","colonialBreeder":true,"length":650,"width":null,"weight":3500000,"animalPhenologies":[],"animalFoodHabits":[{"animalCagFoodHabitsId":103945,"foodHabits":{"id":2,"foodHabitsDescEn":"Piscivore","foodHabitsDescEs":"Piscivore","foodHabitsDescFr":"Piscivore","displayOrder":2},"adult":true,"immature":true},{"animalCagFoodHabitsId":103946,"foodHabits":{"id":3,"foodHabitsDescEn":"Invertivore","foodHabitsDescEs":"Invertívoro","foodHabitsDescFr":"Invertivore","displayOrder":3},"adult":true,"immature":true}]},"occurrenceDelineations":[{"eoSpecsDetailId":1543,"locationUseClass":{"id":2,"locationUseClassDescEn":"Breeding","locationUseClassDescEs":"En reproducción","locationUseClassDescFr":"Reproduction","displayOrder":2},"eoSpecGroupName":null,"subtypes":null,"inferredExtentDistance":null,"inferredExtentNotes":"Not applicable.","minimumEoCriteria":"Evidence of historical presence, or current and likely recurring presence, at a given location during the pupping, mating, and nursing season (approx. December through late February; Stewart, in Wilson and Ruff 1999). Such evidence minimally includes reliable observation and documentation of nursing females.","mappingGuidance":null,"separationBarriers":"None.","separationDistanceUnsuitableHabitatat":15.0,"separationDistanceSuitableHabitatat":15.0,"altSeparationProcedure":"Occurrences can be separated at smaller separation distances if research reveals little genetic mixing between the two breeding populations.","separationJustification":"Separation distance arbitrary. Although movement and genetic exchange continues between rookeries, most elephant seals return to their natal rookeries when they start breeding (Huber et al. 1991). Adults remain on shore throughout breeding season; up to three months for males (Stewart , in Wilson and Ruff 1999).","versionDate":"2002-03-11","versionAuthor":"Cannings, S.","versionNotes":null,"lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:25:10.518797Z"},{"eoSpecsDetailId":1544,"locationUseClass":{"id":3,"locationUseClassDescEn":"Nonbreeding","locationUseClassDescEs":"No reproducción","locationUseClassDescFr":"Non-reproduction","displayOrder":3},"eoSpecGroupName":null,"subtypes":null,"inferredExtentDistance":null,"inferredExtentNotes":"Not applicable.","minimumEoCriteria":"Evidence of historical presence, or current and likely recurring presence, at a given terrestrial location during the molting season (approx. April through August; Stewart, in Wilson and Ruff 1999). Such evidence minimally includes reliable observation and documentation of molting individuals over several years. Solitary at other times during the nonbreeding season (Stewart, in Wilson and Ruff 1999).","mappingGuidance":null,"separationBarriers":"None.","separationDistanceUnsuitableHabitatat":15.0,"separationDistanceSuitableHabitatat":15.0,"altSeparationProcedure":null,"separationJustification":"Separation distance arbitrary.","versionDate":"2002-03-11","versionAuthor":"Cannings, S.","versionNotes":"These EOs may or may not be at the same location as breeding EOs.","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:25:10.518797Z"}],"plantCharacteristics":null,"elementManagement":{"elementGlobalId":105540,"eoManagementGroupName":null,"stewardshipOverview":null,"impacts":null,"restorationPotential":null,"siteConservationPlansConsidered":null,"managementMethods":null,"monitoringMethods":null,"managementProgramContacts":null,"monitoringProgramContacts":null,"managementResearchPrograms":null,"managementResearchNeeds":null,"biologicalResearchNeeds":null,"additionalTopics":null},"occurrenceViabilities":[{"eoRankSpecsDetailId":106962,"eoRankSpecsGroupName":null,"locationUseClass":{"id":1,"locationUseClassDescEn":"Not applicable","locationUseClassDescEs":"No se aplica","locationUseClassDescFr":"Sans objet","displayOrder":1},"excellentViability":null,"goodViability":null,"fairViability":null,"poorViability":null,"viabilityJustification":"Use the Generic Guidelines for the Application of Occurrence Ranks (2008).<br>The Key for Ranking Species Occurrences Using the Generic Approach provides a step-wise process for implementing this method.","versionDate":null,"versionAuthor":null,"versionNotes":null,"lastModified":"2020-05-14T02:29:15.215514Z"}],"references":[{"id":1151804,"citation":"American Society of Mammalogists (ASM). 2025. Mammal Diversity Database (Version 1.13) [Data set]. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10595931. Online. Available: https://www.mammaldiversity.org/","shortCitationAuthor":"American Society of Mammalogists (ASM)","shortCitationYear":2025,"referenceCode":"W25ASM01NAUS","lastModified":"2025-04-04T21:45:15.526109Z"},{"id":235682,"citation":"Baker, R. J., L. C. Bradley, R. D. Bradley, J. W. Dragoo, M. D. Engstrom, R. S. Hoffman, C. A. Jones, F. Reid, D. W. Rice, and C. Jones. 2003a. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 2003. Museum of Texas Tech University Occasional Papers 229:1-23.","shortCitationAuthor":"Baker et al.","shortCitationYear":2003,"referenceCode":"B03BAK01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:05.742349Z"},{"id":119122,"citation":"Banfield, A. W. F. 1974. The mammals of Canada. University of Toronto Press, Toronto, Canada. 438 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Banfield","shortCitationYear":1974,"referenceCode":"B74BAN01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:03.631914Z"},{"id":115800,"citation":"Bodkin, J. L., R. J. Jameson, and G. R. Van Blaricom. 1985. Pup production, abundance, and breeding distribution of northern elephant seals on San. Nicholas Island, winter, 1981. California Fish & Game 71:53-59.","shortCitationAuthor":"Bodkin et al.","shortCitationYear":1985,"referenceCode":"A85BOD01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:25:10.518797Z"},{"id":759420,"citation":"Bradley, R.D., L.K. Ammerman, R.J. Baker, L.C. Bradley, J.A. Cook. R.C. Dowler, C. Jones, D.J. Schmidly, F.B. Stangl Jr., R.A. Van den Bussche and B. Würsig. 2014. Revised checklist of North American mammals north of Mexico, 2014. Museum of Texas Tech University Occasional Papers 327:1-28. Available at: http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/publications/opapers/ops/OP327.pdf","shortCitationAuthor":"Bradley et al.","shortCitationYear":2014,"referenceCode":"A14BRA01NACA","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:17.880059Z"},{"id":144714,"citation":"Condit, R., and B. J. Le Boeuf. 1984. Feeding habits and feeding grounds of the northern elephant seal. J. Mamm. 65:281-290.","shortCitationAuthor":"Condit and Le Boeuf","shortCitationYear":1984,"referenceCode":"A84CON01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:25:10.534403Z"},{"id":140774,"citation":"Cooper, C. F., and B. S. Stewart. 1983. Demography of northern elephant seals, 1911-1982. Science 219:969-971.","shortCitationAuthor":"Cooper and Stewart","shortCitationYear":1983,"referenceCode":"A83COO02NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:25:10.534403Z"},{"id":141346,"citation":"Hodder, J., R. F. Brown, and C. Cziesla. 1998. The northern elephant seal in Oregon: a pupping range extension and onshore occurrence. Marine Mammal Science 14:873-881.","shortCitationAuthor":"Hodder et al.","shortCitationYear":1998,"referenceCode":"A98HOD01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:25:10.534403Z"},{"id":138381,"citation":"Huber, H. R. 1987. Natality and weaning success in relation to age of first reproduction in northern elephant seals. Can. J. Zool. 65:1311-1316.","shortCitationAuthor":"Huber","shortCitationYear":1987,"referenceCode":"A87HUB01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:25:10.518797Z"},{"id":117329,"citation":"Huber, H. R., A. C. Rovetta, L. A. Fry, and S. Johnston. 1991. Age-specific natality of northern elephant seals at the South Farallon Islands, California. J. Mammalogy 72:525-534.","shortCitationAuthor":"Huber et al.","shortCitationYear":1991,"referenceCode":"A91HUB01NACA","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:25:10.534403Z"},{"id":125853,"citation":"Ingles, L. G. 1965. Mammals of the Pacific States. 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Mamm., Mammalian Species No. 449:1-10.","shortCitationAuthor":"Stewart and Huber","shortCitationYear":1993,"referenceCode":"A93STE02NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:25:10.534403Z"},{"id":143904,"citation":"Stewart, B. S., and R. L. DeLong. 1995. Double migrations of the northern elephant seal, <i>Mirounga angustirostris</i>. Journal of Mammalogy 76:196-205.","shortCitationAuthor":"Stewart and DeLong","shortCitationYear":1995,"referenceCode":"A95STE01NAUS","lastModified":"2025-10-04T02:18:55.842425Z"},{"id":122943,"citation":"Sydeman, W. J., et al. 1991. Age-specific weaning success of northern elephant seals in relation to previous breeding experience. Ecology 72:2204-2217.","shortCitationAuthor":"Sydeman et al.","shortCitationYear":1991,"referenceCode":"A91SYD01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:25:10.534403Z"},{"id":152118,"citation":"Tomich, P. Q. 1986. Mammals in Hawai'i. A synopsis and notational bibliography. Second edition. Bishop Museum Press, Honolulu. 375 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Tomich","shortCitationYear":1986,"referenceCode":"B86TOM01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:14.069551Z"},{"id":117022,"citation":"Wilson, D. E., and D. M. Reeder (editors). 1993. Mammal species of the world: a taxonomic and geographic reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, DC. xviii + 1206 pp. Available online at: http://www.nmnh.si.edu/msw/.","shortCitationAuthor":"Wilson and Reeder","shortCitationYear":1993,"referenceCode":"B93WIL01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:17.880059Z"}],"otherCommonNames":[{"id":135303,"name":"Éléphant de mer","language":"FR"}],"speciesGlobal":{"elementGlobalId":105540,"cites":null,"cosewic":{"id":6,"cosewicDescEn":"Not at Risk","cosewicDescEs":"No está en riesgo","cosewicDescFr":"Non en péril","cosewicCode":"NAR"},"fwsRegion":null,"genusSize":{"id":2,"genusSizeDescEn":"Very small genus","genusSizeDescEs":"Un género muy pequeño","genusSizeDescFr":"Très petit genre"},"jurisEndem":{"id":5,"jurisEndemDescEn":"occurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations","jurisEndemDescEs":"Se encuentra en varias naciones (de manera regular, como un taxón nativo)","jurisEndemDescFr":"Se trouve dans plusieurs nations (de façon régulière, tel un taxon indigène)"},"nomenclaturallyEst":null,"usesa":null,"informalTaxonomy":{"informalTaxonomyId":6,"level1":"Animals","level2":"Vertebrates","level3":"Mammals","level":3,"hasChildren":false,"parentId":2,"distributionStatus":"complete","displayOrder":1090},"parentSpecies":null,"infraspecies":false,"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Craniata","taxclass":"Mammalia","taxorder":"Carnivora","family":"Phocidae","genus":"Mirounga","americanFisheriesStatus":null,"americanFisheriesStatusDate":null,"saraStatus":null,"saraStatusDate":null,"cosewicDate":"1986-04-01","interpretedCosewic":null,"cosewicComments":"Reason for Designation: Despite virtual extermination by 1860, protection of elephant seals and their breeding sites in the United States and Mexico has allowed them to make a remarkable recovery. They are now common enough to not be considered at risk.<br/><br/>Status History: Designated Not at Risk in April 1986. More recently (2017) considered a low priority candidate for re-assessment.","usesaDate":null,"interpretedUsesa":null,"usesaComments":null,"completeDistribution":true,"synonyms":[],"infraspeciesList":[],"ebarId":null,"ebarCanadianScope":false,"ebarGlobalScope":false,"ebarKbaGroup":"Mammals","caGeneralStatusId":"GS001501"},"speciesCharacteristics":{"elementGlobalId":105540,"reproductionComments":"Single pup is born late December-February (rarely March), mainly in February. Pups are weaned in 4 weeks. Mating occurs a few days before the pups are weaned, then females go to sea to feed. Most adults vacate the breeding areas by the end of February. Young go to sea at 11-16 weeks, after fasting on beach for several weeks. Relatively few males (mainly 9-11 years old, or younger in newly established colonies) inseminate most of the females. Females produce their first pup usually at 3-5 years. Most females breed annually. Reproductive success increases between maternal ages of 3-7 years, then levels off; however, females breeding at a young age may experience lowered reproductive success later in life (Sydeman et al. 1991). Males live up to 15-16 years; oldest known female was 18 years old. ","ecologyComments":"Dominance hierarchy forms among males on breeding grounds. Highly gregarious when ashore, during breeding season and when molting. Adult females and juveniles come ashore to molt in spring, males in summer, nonpregnant females and young in fall. Preweaning mortality varies greatly among different colonies, from a few percent to sometimes 76% (see Stewart and Huber 1993 for additional survivorship data).","habitatComments":"Northern elephant seals feed at sea (temperate and subtropical) and use beaches for breeding and molting.<br><br>In California, elephants seals occupy beaches of continental islands and the mainland during breeding (winter) and molting (spring, summer) periods; also a peak in abundance on shore occurs in October when resting females, pups of the year, and some juveniles haul out briefly. When at sea, elephant seals spend little time at the surface; commonly they are at depths of several hundred meters. Young are born on beaches of continental islands and mainland (Ano Nuevo, Point Reyes). Young stay ashore 2-3 months after weaning, leave beaches by end of April. 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