sea elephant
Noun 1. A large earless seal: A sea elephant is either of two species of very large, earless seals (genus Mirounga) found primarily in the Northern Atlantic and Southern oceans. They are characterized by their massive size and the inflatable, trunk-like proboscis of the adult males. 2. An elephant seal: This is the common name for the animal. The "sea elephant" gets its name from the large, elongated nose of the male, which resembles an elephant's trunk and is used to produce loud roars.
The term "sea elephant" is used to refer specifically to these marine mammals. It functions as a countable noun. * Scientists are studying the migration patterns of the sea elephant. * The male sea elephant uses its large nose to make threatening sounds. * We saw a colony of sea elephants on the beach.
- "Northern sea elephant": An older or less common term for the Northern elephant seal ().
- "Southern sea elephant": An older or less common term for the Southern elephant seal ().
- Elephant seal (n): The more common modern term for a sea elephant.
- Bull (n): A male sea elephant.
- Cow (n): A female sea elephant.
- Weaner (n): A young sea elephant that has stopped nursing.
- Elephant seal
The term "sea elephant" is largely synonymous with "elephant seal." However, "elephant seal" is the predominant term in modern biological and common usage. "Sea elephant" may be encountered in historical texts or in certain regional contexts.
- either of two large northern Atlantic earless seals having snouts like trunks