This nosy animal, called the southern elephant seal, is the world’s biggest seal. With a top weight of 8,000 pounds (or 4 tons!) they aren’t quite as heavy as an elephant. But male elephant seals do have an extra-long, extra-silly nose, sort of like an elephant’s trunk. Unlike an elephant, though, these big creatures can hold their breath underwater for 100 minutes, as long as a whale can! It’s obvious this animal earns a seal of approval.
Wee ones: If an elephant seal’s nose is 1 foot long, do you think it’s longer than your foot?
Little kids: Elephant seals can be as long as 20 feet! How much longer is that than a 7-foot long crabeater seal? Bonus: If an elephant seal pup weighs 90 pounds when it’s born, but is up to 290 pounds just 3 weeks later, how many pounds did it gain?
Big kids: If an elephant seal floats for 1/12th of a 60-minute hour and dives underwater for the remainder of the hour, how many minutes does it spend diving underwater? Bonus: How many more minutes would it need to stay underwater to reach 100 minutes of holding its breath?
Answers:
Wee ones: Different for everyone… but we bet it’s longer than your foot!
Little kids: 13 feet longer. Bonus: 200 pounds.
Big kids: 55 minutes diving underwater, because 1/12th of 60 = 60 / 12 = 5, and 60 – 5 = 55. Bonus: 45 more minutes to reach 100 minutes.
