Abstract
IN elephant seals (Mirounga leonina, Linn.), there is an enormous development of the hypodermis in which all the dissectible body fat is deposited. The subcutaneous fat layer acts as a physical insulator1, and its excessive depletion would almost certainly lead to death in the aquatic environment.
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References
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BRYDEN, M. Growth and Function of the Subcutaneous Fat of the Elephant Seal. Nature 220, 597–599 (1968). https://doi.org/10.1038/220597a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/220597a0
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