Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary photos

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California sea lion colony, Zalophus californianus, Monterey
California sea lion colony.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 03226  
Proliferating anemone with attached juveniles, growing on kelp stipe, Epiactis prolifera, Monterey, California
Proliferating anemone with attached juveniles, growing on kelp stipe.
Species: Proliferating anemone, Epiactis prolifera
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 00573  
Nudibranch, Cadlina luteomarginata, Monterey, California
Nudibranch.
Species: Yellow-marginate nudibranch, Cadlina luteomarginata
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 00639  
Nudibranch on calcareous coralline algae, Hermissenda crassicornis, Monterey, California
Nudibranch on calcareous coralline algae.
Species: Opalescent nudibranch, Hermissenda crassicornis
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 01064  
Gray whale, neonate calf with embryonic folds visible, Eschrichtius robustus, Monterey, California
Gray whale, neonate calf with embryonic folds visible.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 01129  
Gray whale, blow, Eschrichtius robustus, Big Sur, California
Gray whale, blow.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: Big Sur, California
Image ID: 01170  
Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus, Monterey, California
Gray whale.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 01190  
Nudibranch on calcareous coralline algae, Hermissenda crassicornis, Monterey, California
Nudibranch on calcareous coralline algae.
Species: Opalescent nudibranch, Hermissenda crassicornis
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 05285  
Orange cup coral, Balanophyllia elegans, Monterey, California
Orange cup coral.
Species: Orange cup coral, Balanophyllia elegans
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 02559  
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
Bull elephant seal, adult male, bellowing. Its huge proboscis is characteristic of male elephant seals. Scarring from combat with other males.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 35152  
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, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
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.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 15460  
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
Male elephant seal rears up on its foreflippers and bellows to intimidate other males and to survey its beach territory. Winter, Central California.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 15489  
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 35130  
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 35131  
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 35134  
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
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: 35135  
Gray whale, raising fluke to dive, Eschrichtius robustus, Big Sur, California
Gray whale, raising fluke to dive.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: Big Sur, California
Image ID: 05780  
Gray whale, raising fluke to dive, Eschrichtius robustus, Big Sur, California
Gray whale, raising fluke to dive.
Species: Gray whale, Eschrichtius robustus
Location: Big Sur, California
Image ID: 05781  
California sea lion, adult male, profile of head showing long whiskers and prominent sagittal crest (cranial crest bone), hauled out on rocks to rest, early morning sunrise light, Monterey breakwater rocks, Zalophus californianus
California sea lion, adult male, profile of head showing long whiskers and prominent sagittal crest (cranial crest bone), hauled out on rocks to rest, early morning sunrise light, Monterey breakwater rocks.
Species: California sea lion, Zalophus californianus
Location: Monterey, California
Image ID: 21566  
A sea otter eats a clam that it has taken from the shallow sandy bottom of Elkhorn Slough.  Because sea otters have such a high metabolic rate, they eat up to 30% of their body weight each day in the form of clams, mussels, urchins, crabs and abalone.  Sea otters are the only known tool-using marine mammal, using a stone or old shell to open the shells of their prey as they float on their backs, Enhydra lutris, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Moss Landing, California
A sea otter eats a clam that it has taken from the shallow sandy bottom of Elkhorn Slough. Because sea otters have such a high metabolic rate, they eat up to 30% of their body weight each day in the form of clams, mussels, urchins, crabs and abalone. Sea otters are the only known tool-using marine mammal, using a stone or old shell to open the shells of their prey as they float on their backs.
Species: Sea otter, Enhydra lutris
Location: Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve, Moss Landing, California
Image ID: 21612  
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 35141  
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
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: 35142  
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
Bull elephant seal, adult male, bellowing. Its huge proboscis is characteristic of male elephant seals. Scarring from combat with other males.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 35143  
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 35145  
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 35146  
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 35148  
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 35151  
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 35153  
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 35154  
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas, Mirounga angustirostris, San Simeon, California
Northern elephant seals, Piedras Blancas.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 35155  
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All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.