Environmental and physiological determinants of huddling behavior of molting female southern elephant seals (Mirounga leonina)

• Published in: Physiology & Behavior
• Main Authors: Chaise, Laureline L., McCafferty, Dominic J., Krellenstein, Adélie, Gallon, Susan L., Paterson, William D., Théry, Marc, Ancel, André, Gilbert, Caroline
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2019
• Subjects: Wallows; Elephant Seal; Elephant Seals; Mirounga leonina; Southern Elephant Seal; Southern Elephant Seals
• Online Access: https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/172335/; https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/172335/7/172335.pdf

While endotherms can rely on their insulation to reduce heat loss to adapt to cold environments, renewing of fur during molt impairs insulation while they have to perfuse the periphery to support epidermal tissues. The southern elephant seal Mirounga leonina undertakes an annual catastrophic molt wh...