Species Mirounga leonina (Linnaeus, 1758)
Southern Elephant Seal
Type data:
Lectotype BMNH 1946.8.9.1 skull fragments (Type data: lectotype BMNH *. Subsequent designation: Hamilton, J.E. (1940). On the history of the Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina (Linn.). Proc. Linn. Soc. Lond. 1939-40: 33-37. locality: see Scheffer, V.B. (1958). Seals, Sea Lions and Walruses. A review of the Pinnipedia. Stanford : Stanford Univ. Press x 179 pp. 32 pls), Isla Más a Tierre, Islas Juan Fernández.Type locality references:
Scheffer, V.B. 1958. Seals, Sea Lions and Walruses. A review of the Pinnipedia. Stanford : Stanford University Press x 179 pp. 32 pls.Secondary source:
Jackson, S. & Groves, C. 2015. Taxonomy of Australian Mammals. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 520 pp. [302].Type data:
Status unknown, King Is., Bass Strait.- Mirounga leonina Allen, J.A. 1905. The Mammalia of southern Patagonia. Report of the Princeton University Expedition to Patagonia, 1896–1899 Zool. 3: 1-210 pls i-xxix [95].
- Macrorhinus leoninus crosetensis Lydekker, R. 1909. On the skull-characters of the southern sea elephant. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1909: 600-606 [606].
Type data:
Holotype BMNH (number not given), Crozet, (?)Kerguelen and Heard Ils. - Macrorhinus leoninus macquariensis Lydekker, R. 1909. On the skull-characters of the southern sea elephant. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1909: 600-606 [603].
Type data:
Holotype BMNH 1.6.22.1 & 9A.11.17.1, Macquarie Is. and Chatham Islands.
Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy
- Jackson, S. & Groves, C. 2015. Taxonomy of Australian Mammals. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 520 pp. [302]
Generic Combinations
- Mirounga leonina crosetensis (Lydekker, 1909).
- Mirounga leonina leonina (Linnaeus, 1758).
- Mirounga leonina (Linnaeus, 1758).
- Mirounga leonina leonina (Linnaeus, 1758).
- Mirounga leonina macquariensis (Lydekker, 1909).
Distribution
Extra Distribution Information
Heard Is., distribution circumpolar mainly in subantarctic latitudes; also Crozat & Kerguelen Islands.
Ecological Descriptors
Gregarious, migratory, oceanic, pelagic, piscivore, predator.
Extra Ecological Information
Diet includes cephalopods.
General References
Arnborn, T., Fedak, M.A., Boyd, I.L. & McConnell, B.J. 1993. Variation in weaning mass of pups in relation to maternal mass, postweaning fast duration, and weaned pup behaviour in southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) at South Georgia. Canadian Journal of Zoology 71: 1772-1781
Bell, C.M., Burton, H.R. & Hindell, M.A. 1997. Growth of southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, during their first foraging trip. Australian Journal of Zoology 45: 447-458
Bell, C.M., Hindell, M.A.& Burton, H.R. 1997. Estimation of body mass in the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, by photogrammetry and morphometrics. Marine Mammal Science 13: 669-682
Bryden, M.M. 1988. Southern elephant seals as subjects for physiological research. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 122: 153-157
Bryden, M.M. 1995. Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina. pp. 686-688 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.
Burton, H. 1986. A substantial decline in numbers of the southern elephant seal at Heard Island. Tasmanian Naturalist 86: 4-8
Burton, H.R. 1985. Tagging studies of male southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) in the Vestfold Hills area, Antarctica, and some aspects of their behaviour. pp. 19-30 in Ling, J.K. & Bryden, M.M. (eds). Studies of sea mammals in south latitudes. Adelaide : South Australian Museum 132 pp.
Fulton, W.N. 1990. First record of an Australian sea lion on the eastern Australian coast. Victorian Naturalist 107: 124-125
Gales, N.J. & Burton, H.R. 1987. Ultrasonic measurement of blubber thickness of the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina (Linn). Australian Journal of Zoology 35: 207-217
Green, K. & Burton, H.R. 1993. Comparison of the stomach contents of southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, at Macquarie and Heard Islands. Marine Mammal Science 9: 10-22
Griffiths, D.J. 1984. The annual cycle of the epididymis of the elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) at Macquarie Island. Journal of Zoology, London 203: 181-191
Griffiths, D.J. 1984. The annual cycle of the testis of the elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) at Macquarie Island. Journal of Zoology, London 203: 193-204
Griffiths, D.J. 1985. Endocrine regulation of seasonal breeding in the male southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) at Macquarie Island. pp. 31-40 in Ling, J.K. & Bryden, M.M. (eds). Studies of sea mammals in south latitudes. Adelaide : South Australian Museum 132 pp.
Griffiths D.J. & Bryden, M.M. 1986. Adenohypophysis of the elephant seal (Mirounga leonina): morphology and seasonal histological changes. American Journal of Anatomy 176: 483-496
Hindell, M.A. 1991. Some life-history parameters of a declining population of southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina. Journal of Animal Ecology 60: 119-134
Hindell, M.A., Bryden, M.M. & Burton, H.R. 1994. Early growth and milk composition in southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina). Australian Journal of Zoology 42: 723-732
Hindell, M.A., Burton, H.R. & Slip, D.J. 1991. Foraging areas of southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, as inferred from water temperature data. Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 42: 115-128
Hindell, M.A., Slip, D.J. & Burton, H.R. 1991. The diving behaviour of adult male and female southern elephant seals Mirounga leonina (Pinnipedia: Phocidae). Australian Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 39: 595-619
Hindell, M.A., Slip, D.J. & Burton, H.R. 1994. Body mass loss of moulting female southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, at Macquarie Island. Polar Biology 14: 275-278
Hindell, M.A. & Burton, H.R. 1987. Past and present status of the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) at Macquarie Island. Journal of Zoology, London 213: 365-380
Hindell, M.A. & Burton, H.R. 1988. Seasonal haul-out patterns of the southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina L.), at Macquarie Island. Journal of Mammalogy 69: 81-88
Hindell, M.A. & Burton, H.R. 1988. The history of the elephant seal industry at Macquarie Island and an estimate of the pre-sealing numbers. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 122: 159-176
Hindell, M.A. & Little, G.J. 1988. Longevity, fertility and philopatry of two female southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) at Macquarie Island. Marine Mammal Science 4: 168-171
Jackson, S. & Groves, C. 2015. Taxonomy of Australian Mammals. Melbourne : CSIRO Publishing 520 pp. [302-304]
Jonker, F.C. & Bester, M.N. 1994. The diving behaviour of adult southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, cows from Marion Island. South African Journal of Antarctic Research 24: 75-93
King, J.E. 1983. Seals of the World. 2nd Edition. St Lucia : Univ. Queensland Press 240 pp.
Krockenberger, M.B. & Bryden, M.M. 1993. Energy intake of immature elephant seals, Mirounga leonina (Carnivora: Phocidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 41: 589-597
Krockenberger, M.B. & Bryden, M.M. 1994. Rate of passage of digesta through the alimentary tract of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) (Carnivora: Phocidae). Journal of Zoology, London 234: 229-237
Ling, J.K. & Bryden, M.M. 1981. Southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina Linnaeus, 1758. pp. 297-327 in Ridgway, S.H. & Harrison, R.J. (eds). Handbook of Marine Mammals. Volume 2. Seals. London : Academic Press.
Ling, J.K. & Bryden, M.M. 1992. Mirounga leonina. Mammalian Species 391: 1-8
Little, G.J. 1991. Thyroid morphology and function and its role in thermoregulation in the newborn southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) at Macquarie Island. Journal of Anatomy 176: 55-70
Little, G.J., Bryden, M.M. & Barnes, A. 1987. Growth from birth to 20 days in the elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, at Macquarie Island. Australian Journal of Zoology 35: 307-312
Little, G.L. 1995. Body temperature in the newborn southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, at Macquarie Island. Marine Mammal Science 11: 480-490
McCann, T.S. 1985. Size, status and demography of southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) populations. pp. 1-17 in Ling, J.K. & Bryden, M.M. (eds). Studies of sea mammals in south latitudes. Adelaide : South Australian Museum 132 pp.
Pemberton, D. & Skira, I.J. 1989. Elephant seals in Tasmania. Victorian Naturalist 106: 202-204
Slip, D.J. 1995. The diet of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) from Heard Island. Canadian Journal of Zoology 1995: 1519-1528
Slip, D.J., Burton, H.R. & Gales, N.J. 1992. Determining blubber mass in the southern elephant seal, Mirounga leonina, by ultrasonic and isotopic techniques. Australian Journal of Zoology 40: 143-152
Slip, D.J., Gales, N.J. & Burton, H.R. 1992. Bodymass loss, utilisation of blubber and fat, and energetic requirements of male southern elephant seals, Mirounga leonina, during the moulting fast. Australian Journal of Zoology 40: 235-243
Woods, R., McLean, S., Nicol, S. & Burton, H. 1995. Antagonism of some cyclohexamine-based drug combinations used for chemical restraint of southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina). Australian Veterinary Journal 72: 165-171
Common Name References
ABRS 2001. Census of Australian Vertebrates. Australian Biological Resources Study. (Southern Elephant Seal)
History of changes
| Published | As part of group | Action Date | Action Type | Compiler(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04-Feb-2023 | PHOCIDAE | 21-Nov-2022 | MODIFIED | |
| 14-Dec-2010 | 16-Oct-2013 | MODIFIED | ||
| 12-Feb-2010 | (import) |