---
title: "Orca vs southern elephant seal — size, weight and speed compar"
description: "Orca is 1.6× southern elephant seal on weight. Compared on 3 measured properties, with the full range and a source for each."
url: https://atoneplace.net/vs/orca-vs-southern-elephant-seal/
site: "At One Place"
---

# Orca vs Southern elephant seal

**Orca vs southern elephant seal: Orca is larger on weight**

Orca is 1.6× southern elephant seal on weight.

An orca and a southern elephant seal can be compared on 3 measures. The figures below are typical adult or full-size values, with the larger of the two in bold.

## Side by side

*Larger value in bold. Ranges reflect genuine variation, not uncertainty.*

|  | Orca | Southern elephant seal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weight | 1,300–10,000 kg | 350–4,000 kg |
| Length | 5–9.8 m | 2.6–6 m |
| Typical lifespan | 30–90 yr | 14–23 yr |

## What the numbers say

- Orca is 1.6× southern elephant seal on weight.
- Orca is 1.6× southern elephant seal on length.
- Orca is 2.5× southern elephant seal on typical lifespan.

*Weight compared.*

- Orca: 1,300–10,000 kg
- Southern elephant seal: 350–4,000 kg

## Orca

The largest dolphin and an apex predator everywhere it lives; distinct populations specialise on different prey.

## Southern elephant seal

The largest carnivoran alive; bulls outweigh cows by a factor of five, the most extreme dimorphism of any mammal.

> This is a comparison of published measurements, nothing more. It describes how two things differ on measures that have been recorded; it does not predict how they would fare against each other in any situation.

## Common questions

### Which is bigger, orca or southern elephant seal?

Orca is 1.6× southern elephant seal on weight. Both figures are typical values; the full range for each is in the table above.

### How do orcas and southern elephant seals compare on length?

Orca: 5–9.8 m. Southern elephant seal: 2.6–6 m. Orca is 1.6× southern elephant seal on length.

### How do orcas and southern elephant seals compare on typical lifespan?

Orca: 30–90 yr. Southern elephant seal: 14–23 yr. Orca is 2.5× southern elephant seal on typical lifespan.

## Related pages

- [African elephant vs orca](https://atoneplace.net/vs/african-elephant-vs-orca/)
- [Asian elephant vs orca](https://atoneplace.net/vs/asian-elephant-vs-orca/)
- [Great white shark vs orca](https://atoneplace.net/vs/great-white-shark-vs-orca/)
- [Car vs orca](https://atoneplace.net/vs/car-vs-orca/)

## Sources

- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — NOAA (https://www.noaa.gov/) [Public domain (US Government)]