Southern Elephant Seal

The adult male is far larger than the female and develops the swollen nose that gives elephant seals their name. Females have a smoother head profile. Neither sex has external ear flaps, and both move across land by undulating the body rather than walking on four flippers.

Their time on the beach is only part of an ocean-going life. Elephant seals spend long periods foraging at sea and return to shore to breed or shed their old skin and coat. Valdés supports a breeding population, with the principal reproductive activity in spring and moulting extending into summer.

In our region. The main coastal viewing period is September–April. Breeding extends through spring, especially September–October; later beach groups may be moulting. Numbers and age groups vary between sites and months.