Elephant seal

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Mirounga angustirostris 

     This occasional visitor to our northern Pacific waters is one of the world’s largest living mammals. Adult bulls may grow to 6 m in length and a weight of 3,500 kg has been recorded. 
     Aside from its dimensions, the most striking aspect of this ponderous, lethargic creature is the 30 cm long proboscis sported by adult males. When inflated, it curves downward into the mouth and the resulting metallic snorts and bellows can carry up to a mile. These sounds are thought to intimidate adversaries in the herd. 
     Elephant seals are diurnal in activity, but spend a good deal of the daylight hours sleeping on the beaches. They are strangely indifferent to man and easily approached. 
     Their diet consists of squid, fish, and small sharks. They are sometimes preyed upon by killer whales. 
 

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