The Northern elephant seal is the largest pinniped carnivore that occurs along the North Pacific coast. The flippers are relatively small, the rear ones directed posteriorly. Its most distinctive feature is the elongated tubular proboscis with a deep transverse cleft among adult males. This proboscis can be inflated and directed into the open mouth to produce vocalizations. Also among males, the neck and chest lose most of their hair and the skin becomes rough and thickened at puberty. The adult pelage consists of course grayish or brownish hairs without any underfur. During the molt, not only is the pelage shed, but the entire cornified epidermis sloughs off in large patches, creating a mottled appearance.

In Oregon, individual elephant seals reportedly were sited ashore south of Bandon and at Simpson Reef, in Coos County. In addition, they have been found at Seal Rock, Depot Bay, and Newport in Lincoln County, and at the mouth of the Columbia River, Clatsop County.

Except for the time spent on the rookery during the breeding season and a month or so ashore while undergoing the molt, the Northern elephant seal is truly a pelagic mammal. They have set records for the deepest dives recorded for any mammal.

The Northern elephant seal is an Oregon Conservation Strategy Species in the Nearshore ecoregion.

Photo by Frank Schulenburg