Southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina), hauled out for their annual catastrophic molt (moult) on the beach at Snow Island, Antarctica, Polar Regions

mirounga leonina snow island antarctica beach haul out annual molt catastrophic molt shedding polar regions wildlife marine mammals seal behavior nature ocean life animal behavior conservation seabed marine biology cold climate coastal environment fauna marine ecosystem animal migration habitat marine life natural habitat ecology seal pups matting reproduction mating season subantarctic wildlife observation seal colony coastal wildlife biological study animal research biodiversity marine environment crustaceans kelp seaweed rocky shore environment antarctic ecosystem adaptations seasonal behavior mammal observation arctic habitats ocean ecosystem