Two records of male southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) on the Atlantic coast of Uruguay

G A Daneri

doi:10.5597/lajam00144

Abstract

Two records of male southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina) on the Atlantic coast of Uruguay

Highlights

The estimated total length of these two animals from the nose to the tip of the hind flippers ranged approximately from 4 to 4.5m. Their respective ages would be in the 6-7 and 7-8 year old groups, based on comparison with pictures and measurements taken from male elephant seals of known age from Isla 25 de Mayo/King George Island, South Shetland Islands, where a long term mark/resight program is being carried out since 1995 (Carlini et al 2004)
As regards to the possible origin of the two individuals here reported, Lewis et al (2006) stated that the most common dispersion records of M. leonina around South America involved sexually mature males, which comprised 67% of 155 individuals categorized and sexed. They concluded that of the five breeding colonies closest to southern South America (Península Valdés, Malvinas/ Falklands, South Georgia, Gough and Tristan da Cunha), the Patagonian colony was, in terms of population size and distance, the most likely source for seals recorded at least along the Atlantic coast
The hypothesis that the two male elephant seals here reported would belong to the Península Valdés breeding colony should be considered

Summary

Introduction

The estimated total length of these two animals from the nose to the tip of the hind flippers ranged approximately from 4 to 4.5m. 2 Museo Argentino de Ciencias Naturales ‘Bernardino Rivadavia’, División Mastozoología, Avenida Angel Gallardo 470 (C 1405 DJR)

Results

Conclusion