Male - Female Difference Photos

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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.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 20388  
Mexican hogfish, adult male showing fleshy bump on head, Bodianus diplotaenia, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)
Mexican hogfish, adult male showing fleshy bump on head.
Species: Mexican hogfish, Bodianus diplotaenia
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 09606  
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.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 15408  
California golden gorgonian and small juvenile sheephead fishes on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater.  The golden gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep.  Each individual polyp is a distinct animal, together they secrete calcium that forms the structure of the colony. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by, Muricea californica, Semicossyphus pulcher, San Clemente Island
California golden gorgonian and small juvenile sheephead fishes on rocky reef, below kelp forest, underwater. The golden gorgonian is a filter-feeding temperate colonial species that lives on the rocky bottom at depths between 50 to 200 feet deep. Each individual polyp is a distinct animal, together they secrete calcium that forms the structure of the colony. Gorgonians are oriented at right angles to prevailing water currents to capture plankton drifting by.
Species: California golden gorgonian, Muricea californica, Semicossyphus pulcher
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 23421  
Mexican hogfish, adult male showing fleshy bump on head, Revilligigedos, Bodianus diplotaenia
Mexican hogfish, adult male showing fleshy bump on head, Revilligigedos.
Species: Mexican hogfish, Bodianus diplotaenia
Image ID: 05768  
Mexican hogfish, adult male showing fleshy bump on head, Bodianus diplotaenia, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)
Mexican hogfish, adult male showing fleshy bump on head.
Species: Mexican hogfish, Bodianus diplotaenia
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 09609  
Mexican hogfish, adult male showing fleshy bump on head, Bodianus diplotaenia, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)
Mexican hogfish, adult male showing fleshy bump on head.
Species: Mexican hogfish, Bodianus diplotaenia
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 09618  
Elephant seals in the surf, showing extreme dimorphism, males (5000 lb) are triple the size of females (1700 lb).  Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
Elephant seals in the surf, showing extreme dimorphism, males (5000 lb) are triple the size of females (1700 lb). Central California.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 15497  
Sheephead and golden gorgonian, underwater in a kelp forest, Muricea californica, Semicossyphus pulcher, San Clemente Island
Sheephead and golden gorgonian, underwater in a kelp forest.
Species: California golden gorgonian, Muricea californica, Semicossyphus pulcher
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 23528  
Gorgonians grow on rocky reef, kelp forest and a white boat floating on the surface can be seen in the background, underwater, Muricea californica, Semicossyphus pulcher, San Clemente Island
Gorgonians grow on rocky reef, kelp forest and a white boat floating on the surface can be seen in the background, underwater.
Species: California golden gorgonian, Muricea californica, Semicossyphus pulcher
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 23537  
Mexican hogfish, female coloration, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico, Bodianus diplotaenia
Mexican hogfish, female coloration, Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico.
Species: Mexican hogfish, Bodianus diplotaenia
Location: Sea of Cortez, Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 27499  
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.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 15411  
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.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 15447  
Sheephead and golden gorgonian, underwater in a kelp forest, Muricea californica, Semicossyphus pulcher, San Clemente Island
Sheephead and golden gorgonian, underwater in a kelp forest.
Species: California golden gorgonian, Muricea californica, Semicossyphus pulcher
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 23586  
Square-spot fairy basslet, male coloration, Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
Square-spot fairy basslet, male coloration.
Species: Square-spot fairy basslet, Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
Image ID: 12862  
Square-spot fairy basslet, male coloration, Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
Square-spot fairy basslet, male coloration.
Species: Square-spot fairy basslet, Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
Image ID: 12863  
Square-spot fairy basslet, male coloration, Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
Square-spot fairy basslet, male coloration.
Species: Square-spot fairy basslet, Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
Image ID: 12864  
Square-spot fairy basslet, male coloration, Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
Square-spot fairy basslet, male coloration.
Species: Square-spot fairy basslet, Pseudanthias pleurotaenia
Image ID: 12865  
Elephant seals in the surf, showing extreme dimorphism, males (5000 lb) are triple the size of females (1700 lb).  Central California, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon
Elephant seals in the surf, showing extreme dimorphism, males (5000 lb) are triple the size of females (1700 lb). Central California.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 15404  
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.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 15446  
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.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 15448  
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.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 20389  
A bull elephant seal approaches a female before forceably mating (copulating) with her, in spite of nearly smashing the female's pup in the process, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
A bull elephant seal approaches a female before forceably mating (copulating) with her, in spite of nearly smashing the female's pup in the process.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 20390  
A bull elephant seal eyes a female before forceably mating (copulating) with her, Mirounga angustirostris, Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
A bull elephant seal eyes a female before forceably mating (copulating) with her.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 20417  
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.
Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 20428  
California sheephead, adult male, Semicossyphus pulcher, San Clemente Island
California sheephead, adult male.
Species: California sheephead wrasse, Semicossyphus pulcher
Location: San Clemente Island, California
Image ID: 01936  
Adult male Guadalupe fur seal with females and pups, Arctocephalus townsendi, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)
Adult male Guadalupe fur seal with females and pups.
Species: Guadalupe fur seal, Arctocephalus townsendi
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 03743  
Cortez chubb including golden phase, Kyphosus elegans, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)
Cortez chubb including golden phase.
Species: Cortez chubb, Kyphosus elegans
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 06179  
Mexican hogfish, adult male showing fleshy bump on head, Revilligigedos, Bodianus diplotaenia
Mexican hogfish, adult male showing fleshy bump on head, Revilligigedos.
Species: Mexican hogfish, Bodianus diplotaenia
Image ID: 05769  
Cortez chubb showing golden phase mating male, Kyphosus elegans, Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe)
Cortez chubb showing golden phase mating male.
Species: Cortez chubb, Kyphosus elegans
Location: Guadalupe Island (Isla Guadalupe), Baja California, Mexico
Image ID: 06852  
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All photographs copyright © Phillip Colla / Oceanlight.com, all rights reserved worldwide.