That extra fat meant that the seals needed more strokes to go deeper but fewer as they ascended toward the surface. And overall, they needed less energy to make the round trip from the deep when ...

May 13 – For elephant seals – one of the most distinctive of the 33 species that comprise the world’s seal family – it is hard work to stay fat.

But the total number of strokes needed to complete a round-trip gradually declined as the seals put on more fat, reaching its lowest point when the seals achieved neutral buoyancy.

Fat elephant seals prioritize hiding themselves from predators during their vast, months-long foraging expeditions in the open ocean, while skinny seals need to take more risks until they're nice ...

For elephant seals - one of the most ... one of the most distinctive of the 33 species that comprise the world's seal family - it is hard work to stay fat. ... Their round-trip migration was up to ...