Elephant Seals: Population Ecology, Behavior, and Physiology
by Burney J. Le Boeuf and Richard M. Laws (Editors), 1994 University of California Press

A collection of scholarly articles reporting on both northern and southern elephant seals. This is currently the best collection of scholarship on these animals although many more recent articles are available on the web and in journals.

Elephant Seals by Carole and Phil Adams, 1999 Central Coast Press

Written for Friends of the Elephant Seals, this book provides the core of the training for FES docents. It is quite accessable but goes into the subject in some depth. It is available through the Friends of the Elephant Seal shop. 60 pages.

The Pinnipeds: Seals, Sea Lions, and Walruses by Marianne Riedman, 1991 University of California Press

A serious but quite accessable book on the pinnipeds: seals, sea lions and fur seals, and walruses. Chapters on adaptations, evolution, ecology, predation, diet, mating, reproduction, maternal care, and communication. Some emphasis on the northern elephant seal because of the author's personal experience and because they are better studied than most pinnipeds. 439 pages.

Guide to Marine Mammals of the World by the National Audubon Society, 2002 Chanticleer Press

Primarily a guide to individual marine mammal species, with illustrations by Pieter Folkens, the book begins with a few chapters on general features of marine mammals. 527 pages.

Marine Mammals - Evolutionary Biology by Annalisa Berta and James L. Sumich, 1999 Academic Press

A high level presentation of the evidence for classification of marine mammals, including extended discussions of senses, structures, and behaviors that distinguish these animals from each other and from land mammals. 494 pages.