Two pups nurse on an elephant seal mother, Mirounga angustirostris

Two pups nurse on an elephant seal mother. In spite of the fact that a female only has enough milk to successfully nurse a single pup to weaning, abandoned pups may try to nurse and the inexperienced mothers may not understand that both pups are doomed. Winter, Central California. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, USA, Mirounga angustirostris, natural history stock photograph, photo id 15483
Two pups nurse on an elephant seal mother. In spite of the fact that a female only has enough milk to successfully nurse a single pup to weaning, abandoned pups may try to nurse and the inexperienced mothers may not understand that both pups are doomed. Winter, Central California. Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, USA

Species: Elephant seal, Mirounga angustirostris
Location: Piedras Blancas, San Simeon, California
Image ID: 15483
Format: Digital 3:2
Keywords: angustirostris, animal, animalia, baby, california, caniformia, carnivora, carnivore, chordata, creature, elefante marino, elephant seal, endangered, endangered threatened species, juvenile pup, lactating, lactation, mammal, mammalia, marine, marine mammal, milk, mirounga, mirounga angustirostris, monterey bay national marine sanctuary, mother, national marine sanctuaries, nature, northern elephant seal, nursing, ocean, phocid, phocidae, piedras blancas, pinniped, pinniped behavior, pinnipedia, pup, san simeon, sea cow, sea elephant, seal, threatened, usa, vertebrata, vertebrate, wildlife
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