Editing Northern elephant seal (section)

{{Short description|Species of marine mammal}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Speciesbox
 | name = Northern elephant seal
 | fossil_range = [[Pleistocene]]-[[recent]]
 | status = LC
 | status_system = IUCN3.1
 | status_ref = <ref name="iucn status 12 November 2021">{{cite iucn |author=Hückstädt, L. |date=2015 |title=''Mirounga angustirostris'' |volume=2015 |page=e.T13581A45227116 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T13581A45227116.en |access-date=12 November 2021}}</ref>
 | status2 = CITES_A2 
 | status2_system = CITES 
 | status2_ref = <ref>{{Cite web|title=Appendices {{!}} CITES|url=https://cites.org/eng/app/appendices.php|access-date=2022-01-14|website=cites.org}}</ref>
 | image = Mating scene with elevated Alpha Male. Elephant Seals of Piedras Blancas.jpg
 | image_caption = Male (bull), female (cow) and pup
 | genus = Mirounga
 | species = angustirostris
 | authority = ([[Theodore Gill|Gill]], 1866)
 | range_map = Mirounga angustirostris distribution map.svg
 | range_map_caption = Distribution of the northern elephant seal (red: breeding colonies; yellow: non-breeding individuals)
}}

The '''northern elephant seal''' ('''''Mirounga angustirostris''''') is one of two [[species]] of [[elephant seal]] (the other is the [[southern elephant seal]]). It is a member of the [[family (biology)|family]] [[Phocidae]] (true [[seal (mammal)|seal]]s). Elephant seals derive their name from their great size and from the male's large [[proboscis]], which is used in making extraordinarily loud roaring noises, especially during the mating competition. [[Sexual dimorphism]] in size is great<!-- : The males can grow to {{convert|14|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|5000|lb|kg|-2|abbr=on}}, while the females grow to {{convert|11|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|1400|lb|kg|-1|abbr=on}}-->. Correspondingly, the mating system is highly [[Polygyny in animals|polygynous]]; a successful male is able to impregnate up to 50 females in one season.