Description

Size:

Maximum length: males, 2.3 m; females, 2.0 m; pups, 1.0 m at birth
Maximum weight: males 300 kg; females 180 kg

Features:

• large broad head
• long muzzle with fleshy mystacial area
• males are larger, darker of colour, and have a broader neck and head than females
• small eyes somewhat spaced apart
• prominent whiskers (vibrissae)
• short foreflippers

Colour:

• light to dark grey fading towards the belly
• irregular spots on the back and sides of the body
• pups are born with a long, silky, creamy white coat, which fades to grey and becomes short and corse in 2 to 4 weeks