Sighting of a Southern elephant seal <i>Mirounga leonina</i> in the Toltén River, southern Chile
2019; University of Valparaíso; Volume: 53; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês
10.22370/rbmo.2018.53.3.1367
ISSN0718-1957
AutoresMaritza Sepúlveda, Guido Pavez, Chris Harrod, Daniel Gomez‐Uchida,
Tópico(s)Aerospace Engineering and Energy Systems
ResumoThe Southern elephant seal (SES) is a marine species that can be found at sea throughout the Southern Ocean on most sub-Antarctic islands. An unusual record of a solitary Southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina) in freshwater habitat is reported. The seal was found 16 km upstream from the mouth of the Toltén River, in southern Chile (39°9’S; 73°10’W). The individual was classified as a sub-adult male approximately 3 m in length. Potential causes for the unusual presence of the seal in a river include feeding on native estuarine fishes and non-native Chinook salmon or resting. Long lasting resting (5 days) in the Toltén River by the seal may indicate suitable habitat and/or lack of disturbance.
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