Elephant Seal Photos, Mirounga angustirostris

Photos of Mirounga angustirostris, Elephant seal
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Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Male elephant seals (bulls) rear up on their foreflippers and fight for territory and harems of females. Bull elephant seals will haul out and fight from December through March, nearly fasting the entire time as they maintain their territory and harem. They bite and tear at each other on the neck and shoulders, drawing blood and creating scars on the tough hides. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Male elephant seals (bulls) rear up on their foreflippers and fight for territory and harems of females. Bull elephant seals will haul out and fight from December through March, nearly fasting the entire time as they maintain their territory and harem. They bite and tear at each other on the neck and shoulders, drawing blood and creating scars on the tough hides. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
Bull elephant seal, adult male, bellowing. Its huge proboscis is characteristic of male elephant seals. Scarring from combat with other males, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Male elephant seals (bulls) rear up on their foreflippers and fight for territory and harems of females. Bull elephant seals will haul out and fight from December through March, nearly fasting the entire time as they maintain their territory and harem. They bite and tear at each other on the neck and shoulders, drawing blood and creating scars on the tough hides, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Male elephant seals (bulls) rear up on their foreflippers and fight in the surf for access for mating females that are in estrous. Such fighting among elephant seals can take place on the beach or in the water. They bite and tear at each other on the neck and shoulders, drawing blood and creating scars on the tough hides, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Elephant seals in the surf, showing extreme dimorphism, males (5000 lb) are triple the size of females (1700 lb). Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
Elephant seal mother and pup vocalize to one another constantly, likely to reassure the pup and confirm the maternal identity on a crowded beach. Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
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All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.