elephant seal
noun
: either of two very large seals (genus Mirounga of the family Phocidae) characterized by a long inflatable proboscis:
a
: one (M. angustirostris) found in Pacific coastal waters from southeastern Alaska to Baja California
b
: one (M. leonina) found in coastal waters of subantarctic islands and Patagonia
Examples of elephant seal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Like many new mothers, a female elephant seal puts herself on a strict diet after giving birth.
—
Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2014
Usually, the waters off Point Bennett on San Miguel Island are teeming with elephant seals and sea lions, Channel Islands National Park said in a March 6 Facebook post.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024
In November, the mortality rate for newborn elephant seal pups reached 96% on one beach in Argentina — astronomically higher than the 0.8% mortality rate observed there in 2022.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024
The bad weather is also affecting local wildlife, including newborn elephant seal pups.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024
The bull elephant seal charged into the ocean after the pup and pushed it to shore with its head, the study said.
—Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 3 Mar. 2024
The virus has proven potent enough to jump from birds to mammals, striking elephant seals and other marine mammals that congregate on shore.
—Dino Grandoni, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024
Once on the brink of extinction, elephant seals are expanding north into new breeding grounds along the California coast, turning long-empty beaches into a ruckus of roars, grunts, chirps and moans.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024
Large colonies of elephant seals are also typically found at Año Nuevo State Reserve and the Channel Islands off Southern California.
—Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 22 Feb. 2024
Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2014
Usually, the waters off Point Bennett on San Miguel Island are teeming with elephant seals and sea lions, Channel Islands National Park said in a March 6 Facebook post.
—Daniella Segura, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024
In November, the mortality rate for newborn elephant seal pups reached 96% on one beach in Argentina — astronomically higher than the 0.8% mortality rate observed there in 2022.
—Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 25 Feb. 2024
The bad weather is also affecting local wildlife, including newborn elephant seal pups.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Jan. 2024
The bull elephant seal charged into the ocean after the pup and pushed it to shore with its head, the study said.
—Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 3 Mar. 2024
The virus has proven potent enough to jump from birds to mammals, striking elephant seals and other marine mammals that congregate on shore.
—Dino Grandoni, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2024
Once on the brink of extinction, elephant seals are expanding north into new breeding grounds along the California coast, turning long-empty beaches into a ruckus of roars, grunts, chirps and moans.
—Lisa M. Krieger, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2024
Large colonies of elephant seals are also typically found at Año Nuevo State Reserve and the Channel Islands off Southern California.
—Don Sweeney, Sacramento Bee, 22 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'elephant seal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near elephant seal
Cite this Entry
“Elephant seal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/elephant%20seal. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share