Mirounga is a genus of true seals, family Phocidae, comprising two species, the northern elephant seal and the southern elephant seal, both very large, oceangoing seals and the largest of all seal species; males can weigh up to 4,000 kilograms. The name derives from the large proboscis of the adult male, reminiscent of an elephants trunk. Both species suffered severe population decline from 19th century hunting for lamp oil but have since recovered.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Member Count Band Era First Appeared Classification
Living or Extinct Connections
Parent Taxon Of
Source Northern Elephant Seal (Wikidata)
In the Other Atlases
Found In
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.
Sources
1. Elephant seal (Wikipedia)
2. Wikipedia: Elephant seal
Taxonomic rank (Wikipedia confirms the entity; rank from slug/structure-wave classification)View the Source 3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Mirounga
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 2
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Mirounga
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Mirounga" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 20.45 ... "early_interval": "Burdigalian"
Wikidata: Mirounga
Wikidata Q185231, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Northern Elephant Seal (Wikidata)
WikidataParent Taxon Of: Northern Elephant Seal, Wikidata P171 (parent taxon) claim, rank=normal, target=Q185231 (Mirounga)View the Source Reader Challenges (0)
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