AnAge entry for Mirounga angustirostris

Classification (HAGRID: 02227)

Taxonomy: Kingdom: Animalia
    Phylum: Chordata
        Class: Mammalia (Taxon entry)
            Order: Carnivora
                Family: Phocidae
                    Genus: Mirounga
Species: Mirounga angustirostris
Common name: Northern elephant seal
Synonyms: Macrorhinus angustirostris

Maximum longevity: Not yet established
Observations: The total gestation time is about 11 months and includes a 2-3 months period of delayed implantation [0443]. Not much is known about the longevity of this species. In the wild, it is estimated that females live up to 18-20 years [0538]. One wild born specimen was about 15.8 years of age when it died in captivity [0671].

No information on metabolism is available.

[1143] Nussey et al. (2013), Senescence in natural populations of animals: widespread evidence and its implications for bio-gerontology (PubMed)
[0671] Richard Weigl (2005), Longevity of Mammals in Captivity; from the Living Collections of the World
[0443] Ronald Nowak (2003), Walker's Marine Mammals of the World
[0434] Ronald Nowak (1999), Walker's Mammals of the World
[0538] Don Wilson and Sue Ruff (1999), The Smithsonian Book of North American Mammals
[0441] William Burt et al. (1998), A Field Guide to Mammals
[0455] Virginia Hayssen et al. (1993), Asdell's Patterns of Mammalian Reproduction: A Compendium of Species-Specific Data