{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Taxon",
  "slug": "elephant-seal",
  "name": "Northern Elephant Seal",
  "scientificName": "Mirounga angustirostris",
  "category": "Mammal",
  "summary": "The northern elephant seal (Mirounga angustirostris) is a huge deep-diving seal of the eastern Pacific, breeding on beaches in California and Mexico and feeding far offshore. Bulls are enormous, reaching around 3.5 m long and weighing anywhere from 400 to 2,300 kg, far heavier than females. They dive for squid and deep-sea fish and typically live 11 to 13 years. The species is listed as Least Concern.",
  "conservationStatus": "Least Concern",
  "taxonomy": {
    "kingdom": "Animalia",
    "phylum": "Chordata",
    "class": "Mammalia",
    "order": "Carnivora",
    "family": "Phocidae",
    "genus": "Mirounga"
  },
  "stats": {
    "weightKg": 900,
    "lengthM": 3.5,
    "topSpeedKmh": 16,
    "lifespanYears": 13
  },
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Scientific name",
      "value": "Mirounga angustirostris"
    },
    {
      "label": "Diet",
      "value": "Carnivore — squid, deep-sea fish, and rays"
    },
    {
      "label": "Habitat",
      "value": "Offshore Pacific and breeding beaches of California and Mexico"
    },
    {
      "label": "Lifespan",
      "value": "11–13 years in the wild (females longer than bulls)"
    },
    {
      "label": "Weight",
      "value": "400–2,300 kg (880–5,070 lb); bulls vastly heavier"
    },
    {
      "label": "Top speed",
      "value": "Up to 16 km/h (10 mph) on land; strong swimmer"
    },
    {
      "label": "Conservation status",
      "value": "Least Concern (IUCN)"
    }
  ],
  "range": {
    "nativeRange": "North Pacific offshore waters; breeding on California and Baja California coasts from Point Reyes to Isla Guadalupe.",
    "continents": [
      "North America",
      "Oceans"
    ]
  },
  "sources": [
    {
      "citation": "IUCN Red List — Mirounga angustirostris.",
      "url": "https://www.iucnredlist.org/search?query=Mirounga%20angustirostris&searchType=species"
    },
    {
      "citation": "Animal Diversity Web — Mirounga angustirostris. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology.",
      "url": "https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Mirounga_angustirostris/"
    }
  ],
  "lastReviewed": "2026-07-16",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/elephant-seal/",
  "license": {
    "name": "CC BY-NC 4.0",
    "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/",
    "attribution": "Global Animal Guide — https://globalanimalguide.org/animals/elephant-seal/",
    "note": "Free to reuse for non-commercial purposes with attribution and a link back to the canonical page."
  }
}