Southern elephant seals typically breed on subantarctic islands and breeding in more temperate regions is rare. This small female (∼1.42 m) that weaned after 25 days is smaller than the average weaned female elephant seal and her survival prospects are correspondingly low (20–35%). The fact that the elephant seal was successfully weaned offers some insight into the breeding plasticity in this species.
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27 October 2017
It’s a girl! A female southern elephant seal born in Western Australia
Clive R. McMahon,
Michele Thums,
Miecha Bradshaw,
Steven Busby,
Vaughn Chapple,
Melissa Evans,
Stephen Goodlich,
Clair Holland,
Holly Raudino,
Paul Rebuck,
Mark A. Hindell
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Australian Journal of Zoology
Vol. 65 • No. 3
November 2017
Vol. 65 • No. 3
November 2017
Integrated Marine Observing System
Mirounga leonina
survival