Elephant seals are large marine mammals known for their distinctive size and appearance. Males can weigh up to 5,000 pounds and have a large, inflatable nose, while females are smaller, averaging around 1,500 pounds. They primarily inhabit the coasts of California and Alaska, spending most of their lives in the ocean and coming ashore mainly for breeding and molting. These seals are excellent divers, capable of reaching depths of over 5,000 feet in search of food, primarily fish and squid. They can hold their breath for over an hour while diving. Elephant seals are known for their long migrations, traveling thousands of miles between feeding and breeding grounds.