Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California

Having just given birth moments before, a mother elephant seal barks at seagulls that are feasting on the placenta and birth tissues. The pup is unharmed; the interaction is a common one between elephant seals and gulls. Winter, Central California. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, USA

Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 15481
Format: Digital 3:2

Keywords: angustirostris, animal, animalia, aves, bird, california, caniformia, carnivora, carnivore, chordata, creature, elefante marino, elephant seal, endangered, endangered threatened species, gull, juvenile pup, mammal, mammalia, marine, marine mammal, mirounga, mirounga angustirostris, monterey bay national marine sanctuary, national marine sanctuaries, nature, northern elephant seal, ocean, phocid, phocidae, piedras blancas, pinniped, pinnipedia, san simeon, sea cow, sea elephant, seal, threatened, usa, vertebrata, vertebrate, wildlife

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Categories:

Animal > Bird > Gull (Laridae)
Animal > Endangered / Threatened Species > Marine > Northern Elephant Seal
Animal > Pinniped > Juvenile / Pup
Animal > Pinniped > Northern Elephant Seal
Location > Protected Threatened and Significant Places > National Marine Sanctuaries > Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (California) > Piedras Blancas

This professional quality stock photo can be licensed in high resolution form by contacting the photographer: Phillip Colla, photos@oceanlight.com, (760) 707-7153, more info and photographer bio.

Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris, #15481