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| A northern elephant seal hovers underwater over a rocky bottom along the coastline of Guadalupe Island. Image ID: 03505 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico | Bull elephant seal exits the water to retake his position on the beach. He shows considerable 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. Image ID: 15458 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | Northern elephant seal. Image ID: 26690 Species: Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris |
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| Northern elephant seal, San Benito Islands. Image ID: 00942 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: San Benito Islands (Islas San Benito), Baja California, Mexico | 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. Image ID: 20369 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | Northern elephant seal. Image ID: 26698 Species: Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris |
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| 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. Image ID: 15394 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | Northern elephant seal, San Benito Islands. Image ID: 02161 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: San Benito Islands (Islas San Benito), Baja California, Mexico | 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. Image ID: 20388 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA |
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| Northern elephant seal. Image ID: 26695 Species: Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris | Bull elephant seal, adult male, bellowing. Its huge proboscis is characteristic of male elephant seals. Scarring from combat with other males. Central California. Image ID: 15387 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | This bull elephant seal, an old adult male, shows extreme 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. Image ID: 15388 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA |
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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. Image ID: 15408 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | Male elephant seal rears up on its foreflippers and bellows to intimidate other males and to survey its beach territory. Winter, Central California. Image ID: 15521 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | 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. Image ID: 20370 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA |
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| 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. Image ID: 20371 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | Northern elephant seal, mother and neonate pup, gulls eating placenta. Image ID: 00945 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | Northern elephant seal. Image ID: 03508 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico |
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| A bull elephant seal (adult male) surveys the beach. The huge proboscis is characteristic of the species. Scarring from combat with other males. Central California. Image ID: 15460 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | Male elephant seal rears up on its foreflippers and bellows to intimidate other males and to survey its beach territory. Winter, Central California. Image ID: 15489 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | Northern elephant seal. Image ID: 26692 Species: Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris |
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| Northern elephant seal. Image ID: 26697 Species: Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris | Northern elephant seal, sunset. Scars on neck and chest are from territorial battles with other adult males. Big Sur. Image ID: 10037 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Gorda, Big Sur, California, USA | Northern elephant seal. Image ID: 26689 Species: Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris |
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| Northern elephant seal. Image ID: 26691 Species: Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris | Northern elephant seal. Image ID: 26693 Species: Northern elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris | 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. Image ID: 20377 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA |
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| 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. Image ID: 20407 Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | Elephant seals crowd a sand beach at the Piedras Blancas rookery near San Simeon. The Piedras Blancas lighthouse is visible in upper left. Image ID: 20355 Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA | Elephant seals crowd a sand beach at the Piedras Blancas rookery near San Simeon. Image ID: 20358 Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California, USA |
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