Sighting of a Southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina in the Toltén River, southern Chile

• Autores: Maritza Sepúlveda, Guido Pavez, Pablo Savaria, Chris Harrod, Daniel Gomez Uchida
• Localización: Revista de biología marina y oceanografía, ISSN 0718-1957, ISSN-e 0717-3326, Vol. 53, Nº. 3, 2018, págs. 375-380
• Idioma: inglés
• Títulos paralelos:
  • Observación de un elefante marino del sur Mirounga leonina en el Río Toltén, sur de Chile
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• Resumen

  • Abstract: The 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.