Elephant Seal Photos, Mirounga angustirostris

Photos of Mirounga angustirostris, Elephant seal
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A bull elephant seal forceably mates (copulates) with a much smaller female, often biting her into submission and using his weight to keep her from fleeing. Males may up to 5000 lbs, triple the size of females. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
A bull elephant seal forceably mates (copulates) with a much smaller female, often biting her into submission and using his weight to keep her from fleeing. Males may up to 5000 lbs, triple the size of females. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
An adult male elephant seal rests on a sandy beach. He shows the enormous proboscis characteristic of male elephant seals, as well as considerable scarring on his neck from fighting with other males for territory. Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
A bull elephant seal rears up on his foreflippers and bellows, warning nearby males not to enter his beach territory. He is surrounded by smaller females, many of which comprise his harem. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
A bull elephant seal rears up on his foreflippers and bellows, warning nearby males not to enter his beach territory. A much smaller adult female is just in front of him. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
A bull elephant seal rears up on his foreflippers and bellows, warning nearby males not to enter his beach territory. He is surrounded by smaller females (and several black pups) which comprise his harem. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
Mother elephant seal and her pup. The pup will nurse for 27 days, when the mother stops lactating and returns to the sea. The pup will stay on the beach 12 more weeks until it becomes hungry and begins to forage for food, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
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
An adult male elephant seal, rushing to attack another male intruding on his territory, tramples a tiny pup. Pups experience a high mortality rate, including injury, separation from mother, being washed into the ocean and abandonment, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Male elephant seal rears up on its foreflippers and bellows to intimidate other males and to survey its beach territory. Winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
This bull elephant seal, an old adult male, shows scarring on his chest and proboscis from many winters fighting other males for territory and rights to a harem of females. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
Male elephant seal rears up on its foreflippers and bellows to intimidate other males and to survey its beach territory. Winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
Elephant seals crowd a sand beach at the Piedras Blancas rookery near San Simeon, Mirounga angustirostris
A bull elephant seal rears up on his foreflippers and bellows, warning nearby males not to enter his beach territory. He is surrounded by smaller females, many of which comprise his harem. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
Elephant seals crowd a sand beach at the Piedras Blancas rookery near San Simeon, Mirounga angustirostris
Adult male elephant seal in the surf, displaying the huge proboscis that is characteristic of this species. Winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
Adult male elephant seal in the surf, displaying the huge proboscis that is characteristic of this species. Winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
Bull elephant seal in surf, adult male, bellowing. Its huge proboscis is characteristic of male elephant seals. Scarring from combat with other males. Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
Adult male elephant seal in the surf, displaying the huge proboscis that is characteristic of this species. Winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
An adult male elephant seal rests on a wet beach. He displays the enormous proboscis characteristic of male elephant seals as well as considerable scarring on his neck from fighting with other males for territory. Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
An adult male elephant seal rests on a wet beach. He displays the enormous proboscis characteristic of male elephant seals as well as considerable scarring on his neck from fighting with other males for territory. Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
Adult male elephant seal lies on wet sand displaying the huge proboscis that is characteristic of this species. Winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
A bull elephant seal forceably mates (copulates) with a much smaller female, often biting her into submission and using his weight to keep her from fleeing. Males may up to 5000 lbs, triple the size of females. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
A bull elephant seal forceably mates (copulates) with a much smaller female, often biting her into submission and using his weight to keep her from fleeing. Males may up to 5000 lbs, triple the size of females. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
A bull elephant seal forceably mates (copulates) with a much smaller female, often biting her into submission and using his weight to keep her from fleeing. Males may up to 5000 lbs, triple the size of females. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
A bull elephant seal forceably mates (copulates) with a much smaller female, often biting her into submission and using his weight to keep her from fleeing. Males may up to 5000 lbs, triple the size of females. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
A bull elephant seal forceably mates (copulates) with a much smaller female, often biting her into submission and using his weight to keep her from fleeing. Males may up to 5000 lbs, triple the size of females. Sandy beach rookery, winter, Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
Huge proboscis (nose) of an adult male elephant seal. 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. 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. Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
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All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.