Sea otters mating. The male holds the female's head or nose with his jaws during copulation. Visible scars are often present on females from this behavior. Sea otters have a polygynous mating system. Many males actively defend territories and will mate with females that inhabit their territory or seek out females in estrus if no territory is established. Males and females typically bond for the duration of estrus, or about 3 days.
Species: Sea otter, Enhydra lutris
Location: Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Moss Landing, California
Image ID: 21606
Laguna Beach Coastline including Views South to Three Arch Bay, Aerial Photo.
Location: Laguna Beach, California
Image ID: 37978
Panorama dimensions: 5975 x 13347
Twin Points, Crescent Bay and Shaws Cove, Laguna Beach Coastline, Aerial Photo.
Location: Laguna Beach, California
Image ID: 38081
Three Arch Bay, Mussel Cove and Three Arch Rock, Laguna Beach Coastline, Aerial Photo. The Whale / Turtle Rock is front and center.
Location: Laguna Beach, California
Image ID: 38149
Panorama dimensions: 5292 x 13407
Honolua Bay in West Maui aerial photo, morning, with snorkel boat at anchor, panorama.
Location: Honolua Bay, Maui, Hawaii
Image ID: 38156
Emerald Bay Lake Tahoe, aerial panoramic photo of the mouth of the bay, early morning.
Location: Lake Tahoe, California
Image ID: 38256
Rapid Bay Jetty Aerial Photo, South Australia. The now-derelict jetty (wharf, pier) at Rapid Bay is famous for great SCUBA diving, including opportunities to see leafy sea dragons.
Location: Rapid Bay Jetty, South Australia
Image ID: 39210
Punta Colorada and San Gabriel Bay, aerial photo, Isla Espiritu Santo, Sea of Cortez, Mexico.
Location: Isla Espiritu Santo, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 32368
Panorama dimensions: 4828 x 9449
San Diego harbor skyline, late afternoon, storm clouds and mountains, Lyons Peak in the distance.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 15672
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.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 15394
Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel at sunset, viewed from the San Diego Embarcadero Marine Park.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 26560
San Diego Bay and Skyline, viewed from Point Loma, panoramic photograph.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 30209
Panorama dimensions: 5361 x 29410
San Diego downtown city skyline and waterfront, sunrise, dawn, viewed from Coronado Island.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 27090
San Diego bay and skyline at sunrise, viewed from Coronado Island.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 27177
Blue Moon at Sunset over San Diego City Skyline. The third full moon in a season, this rare "blue moon" rises over San Diego just after sundown.
Location: San Diego, California
Image ID: 28754