Penny Hood, age 16, of Bowling Green, Ky., for her question:

WHAT DOES THE SEA ELEPHANT EAT?

The largest seal in the world is the southern elephant seal. This gigantic sea animal is also called the sea elephant.

The sea elephant lives in the southernmost waters off South America. The male may grow to be 21 feet long and may weigh up to 8,000 pounds. This seal actually ranks second in size only to whales among all sea mammals.

The sea elephant is named for its large nose, which grows to be about 15 inches long. The tough skin of the seal also looks somewhat like tough elephant hide.

The elephant seal, like other seals, lives on a diet of fish, sea birds and squids. The animal has sharp, pointed teeth but it cannot chew food because the teeth do not have flat surfaces. They grasp and tear most of y eir prey but swallow small fish whole, head first.