View allAll Photos Tagged ElephantSealRookery
~Piedras Blancas~
Piedras Blancas which translates to White Rocks. This is taken in front of the two big white rocks at the Elephant Seal Rookery in San Simeon.
#RigsRocks #WestCoast #WhiteRocks #WestCoastLiving #Beach #Ocean #PacificOcean #ElephantSeals #ElephantSealRookery #PiedrasBlancas #PiedrasBlancasElephantSealRookery #SanSimeon #Proboscis #Bulls #MaleBulls #2019Photos #Water #Ocean #Sun #Spring #Seals #Sand #Flippers #Phocids #Molting #Sea #Proboscis
During Elephant Seal birthing season, births are occurring frequently on the beach near Piedras Blancas, California. It's easy to know when a birth has taken place, as the gulls flock to the spot immediately to devour the afterbirth, as you can see occurring in this shot (lower right)...while the mom nuzzles her newborn, only a few minutes old.
~Elephant Seals~
Elephant Seals at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery.
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Elephant seals are marine mammals classified under the order Pinnipedia, which in Latin, means feather or fin footed. Elephant seals are considered true seals, and fall under the family Phocidae. Phocids (true seals) are characterized by having no external ear and reduced limbs. The reduction of their limbs helps them be more streamlined and move easily in the water. However, it makes navigating on land a bit difficult because they cannot turn their hind flippers forward to walk like the Otariids. In addition, the hind flipper of elephant seals have a lot of surface area, which helps propel them in the water. Elephant seals spend the majority of their time (90%) underwater in search of food, and can cover 60 miles a day when they head out to sea. When elephant seals are born, they can weigh up to 80 pounds and reach lengths up to 4 feet. Sexual dimorphism is prominently seen in elephant seals due to the fact that male elephant seals can weigh up to 10 times more than females. Also, the large proboscis, which is considered a secondary sexual characteristic, helps males assert dominance during mating season.
Elephant seals take their name from the large proboscis of the adult male (bull), which resembles an elephant's trunk. The bull's proboscis is used in producing extraordinarily loud roaring noises, especially during the mating season. More importantly, however, the nose acts as a sort of rebreather, filled with cavities designed to reabsorb moisture from their exhalations. This is important during the mating season when the seals do not leave the beach to feed, and must conserve body moisture as there is no incoming source of water. They are colossally large in comparison with other pinnipeds, with southern elephant seal bulls typically reaching a length of 5 m (16 ft) and a weight of 3,000 kg (6,600 lb), and are much larger than the adult females (cows), with some exceptionally large males reaching up to 6 m (20 ft) in length and weighing 4,000 kg (8,800 lb); cows typically measure about 3 m (10 ft) and 900 kg (2,000 lb). Northern elephant seal bulls reach a length of 4.3 to 4.8 m (14 to 16 ft) and the heaviest weigh about 2,500 kg (5,500 lb).
The northern and southern elephant seal can be distinguished by looking at various external features. On average, the southern elephant seal tends to be larger than the northern species. Adult male elephant seals belonging to the northern species tend to have a larger proboscis, and thick chest area with a red coloration compared to the southern species. Females do not have the large proboscis and can be distinguished between species by looking at their nose characteristics.Southern females tend to have a smaller, blunt nose compared to northern females. — at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery.
~Elephant Seals~
Elephant Seals at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery.
#RigsRocks #WestCoast #WestCoastLiving #Beach #Ocean #PacificOcean #ElephantSeals #ElephantSealRookery #PiedrasBlancas #PiedrasBlancasElephantSealRookery #SanSimeon #Proboscis #Bulls #MaleBulls #2019Photos #Water #Ocean #Sun #Spring #Seals #Sand #Flippers #Phocids #Molting #Sea #Proboscis
Elephant seals are marine mammals classified under the order Pinnipedia, which in Latin, means feather or fin footed. Elephant seals are considered true seals, and fall under the family Phocidae. Phocids (true seals) are characterized by having no external ear and reduced limbs. The reduction of their limbs helps them be more streamlined and move easily in the water. However, it makes navigating on land a bit difficult because they cannot turn their hind flippers forward to walk like the Otariids. In addition, the hind flipper of elephant seals have a lot of surface area, which helps propel them in the water. Elephant seals spend the majority of their time (90%) underwater in search of food, and can cover 60 miles a day when they head out to sea. When elephant seals are born, they can weigh up to 80 pounds and reach lengths up to 4 feet. Sexual dimorphism is prominently seen in elephant seals due to the fact that male elephant seals can weigh up to 10 times more than females. Also, the large proboscis, which is considered a secondary sexual characteristic, helps males assert dominance during mating season.
Elephant seals take their name from the large proboscis of the adult male (bull), which resembles an elephant's trunk. The bull's proboscis is used in producing extraordinarily loud roaring noises, especially during the mating season. More importantly, however, the nose acts as a sort of rebreather, filled with cavities designed to reabsorb moisture from their exhalations. This is important during the mating season when the seals do not leave the beach to feed, and must conserve body moisture as there is no incoming source of water. They are colossally large in comparison with other pinnipeds, with southern elephant seal bulls typically reaching a length of 5 m (16 ft) and a weight of 3,000 kg (6,600 lb), and are much larger than the adult females (cows), with some exceptionally large males reaching up to 6 m (20 ft) in length and weighing 4,000 kg (8,800 lb); cows typically measure about 3 m (10 ft) and 900 kg (2,000 lb). Northern elephant seal bulls reach a length of 4.3 to 4.8 m (14 to 16 ft) and the heaviest weigh about 2,500 kg (5,500 lb).
The northern and southern elephant seal can be distinguished by looking at various external features. On average, the southern elephant seal tends to be larger than the northern species. Adult male elephant seals belonging to the northern species tend to have a larger proboscis, and thick chest area with a red coloration compared to the southern species. Females do not have the large proboscis and can be distinguished between species by looking at their nose characteristics.Southern females tend to have a smaller, blunt nose compared to northern females. — at Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery.
Elephant Seals lounging in the sun before the next feeding session, north of San Simeon on California's beautiful Central Coast.
~Elephant Seals~
Elephant Seals at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery.
#WestCoast #WestCoastLiving #Beach #Ocean #PacificOcean #ElephantSeals #ElephantSealRookery #PiedrasBlancas #PiedrasBlancasElephantSealRookery #SanSimeon #Proboscis #Bulls #MaleBulls #2019Photos #Water #Ocean #Sun #Spring #Beach #Sand #Bikini #Girl #Boy #Man #Lady
Elephant seals are marine mammals classified under the order Pinnipedia, which in Latin, means feather or fin footed.[6] Elephant seals are considered true seals, and fall under the family Phocidae.[7] Phocids (true seals) are characterized by having no external ear and reduced limbs.[7] The reduction of their limbs helps them be more streamlined and move easily in the water.[6] However, it makes navigating on land a bit difficult because they cannot turn their hind flippers forward to walk like the Otariids.[6] In addition, the hind flipper of elephant seals have a lot of surface area, which helps propel them in the water.[6] Elephant seals spend the majority of their time (90%) underwater in search of food, and can cover 60 miles a day when they head out to sea.[7] When elephant seals are born, they can weigh up to 80 pounds and reach lengths up to 4 feet.[7] Sexual dimorphism is prominently seen in elephant seals due to the fact that male elephant seals can weigh up to 10 times more than females.[8] Also, the large proboscis, which is considered a secondary sexual characteristic, helps males assert dominance during mating season.[7]
Elephant seals take their name from the large proboscis of the adult male (bull), which resembles an elephant's trunk.[9] The bull's proboscis is used in producing extraordinarily loud roaring noises, especially during the mating season. More importantly, however, the nose acts as a sort of rebreather, filled with cavities designed to reabsorb moisture from their exhalations.[10] This is important during the mating season when the seals do not leave the beach to feed, and must conserve body moisture as there is no incoming source of water. They are colossally large in comparison with other pinnipeds, with southern elephant seal bulls typically reaching a length of 5 m (16 ft) and a weight of 3,000 kg (6,600 lb), and are much larger than the adult females (cows), with some exceptionally large males reaching up to 6 m (20 ft) in length and weighing 4,000 kg (8,800 lb); cows typically measure about 3 m (10 ft) and 900 kg (2,000 lb). Northern elephant seal bulls reach a length of 4.3 to 4.8 m (14 to 16 ft) and the heaviest weigh about 2,500 kg (5,500 lb).
The northern and southern elephant seal can be distinguished by looking at various external features. On average, the southern elephant seal tends to be larger than the northern species. Adult male elephant seals belonging to the northern species tend to have a larger proboscis, and thick chest area with a red coloration compared to the southern species.[8] Females do not have the large proboscis and can be distinguished between species by looking at their nose characteristics.Southern females tend to have a smaller, blunt nose compared to northern females.[
A small Northern Elephant Seal Bull raises his head and trumpets his call in the waning sunlight. I caught a nice shape defining light rim on both the bull and two more bull elephant seals.
The Northern Elephant Seal is smaller than those from the Southern part of the world. However, they are still quite large and the males have what is similar to an elephant’s trunk on their face that is very short. The males are very large with a weight of up to 5,000 pounds. These seals can reach up to 14 feet in length. The females are much smaller when it comes to weight with only about 1,400 pounds. They are shorter too at only 11 feet. Northern Elephant Seals range in color from light gray to dark black.
You will hear extremely deep and loud roaring sounds coming from the males when it is time to mate. The males are extremely competitive when it is time for mating. One male can earn the right to mate with as many as 50 females in the group. The males head off first to the mating grounds where they will battle each other before the females start to arrive.
Northern Elephant Seals are found along the Pacific Coast from Alaska to Baja California. They migrate annually to mate and for the females to give birth. There are a small number of rookeries along the California Coast where large herds of these mammals are found and can be observed during mating season. The long stretch of sandy beach just north of San Simeon is one of those locations.
© Lawrence Goldman 2012, All Rights Reserved
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Up in Cambria and Big Sur for a few days. Yesterday at dawn, we stopped by the elephant seal rookery and came across many seals, but these two young ones were very curious about us..and look at those faces!
Well, it's not really a lost world but the scene had a surreal straight out of Jurassic Park look about it. Piedras Blancas is the breeding ground for elephant seals. We came in early December so what we found were mostly the males and pups that were too young to travel. In a couple of weeks the females would have started to arrive to give birth (from the last mating season) and to mate.
Piedras Blancas, CA
Baby Elephant Seal.
For those of you who didn't think my Spider post was very cute ;-)
These shots are from a recent trip to the Piedras Blancas rookery near San Simeon. I ended up over 150 images and have been culling through them slowly. I may flesh our the set with 5-10 images later.
Normally I plan ahead, but this was mostly a fly by the seat of the pants trip. Hwy 1 along the Pacific Coast had a surprise in store for me (my husband apparently knew about it). The end of January and beginning of February activity at the San Simeon elephant seal rookery was at its noisy peak. Mothers defending their spots in their middle sized voices, pups squealing to be fed in their higher pitched voices, the alpha bull roaring just off shore with a few beta males banished nearby, all made a tremendous racket. For about seven miles, every sandy beach was covered with mothers and pups. Each beach had a bull waiting for the females to come into estrus at the end of the feeding period of about a month. During the entire stay, about 3 months for the bulls, the adults do not eat or drink anything. Most lose about half their body weight.
See the e-sealcam at www.elephantseal.org
Please do not copy this image without my explicit written permission.
© All rights reserved: john c. bruckman @ innereye photography
All these pups were born on or about Christmas Day. It seemed appropriate to honor some of them with B&W images for they are all born with jet-black coats. In the marine mammal world they are referred to as "Blackcoats." They shed their coats in a matter of weeks and henceforth are called "Weaners" or "Super Weaners." The "Super Weaners" are crafty enough to nurse with several mothers and therefore are much larger and stronger than their cohort. Their mothers have lost about 50% of their weight since coming ashore, birthing their pups and then feeding them. The females wean them at about 28 days, mate with a dominant male and return to the ocean for food and rest.
Photo Note: Most people in the World have never seen an Elephant Seal in the wild. This series will introduce you to the species at the Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal Rookery. The Piedras Blancas Rookery, on Highway 1 seven miles north of San Simeon on the California Central Coast, is home to about 17,000 animals.
Normally I plan ahead, but this was mostly a fly by the seat of the pants trip. Hwy 1 along the Pacific Coast had a surprise in store for me (my husband apparently knew about it). The end of January and beginning of February activity at the San Simeon elephant seal rookery was at its noisy peak. Mothers defending their spots in their middle sized voices, pups squealing to be fed in their higher pitched voices, the alpha bull roaring just off shore with a few beta males banished nearby, all made a tremendous racket. For about seven miles, every sandy beach was covered with mothers and pups. Each beach had a bull waiting for the females to come into estrus at the end of the feeding period of about a month. During the entire stay, about 3 months for the bulls, the adults do not eat or drink anything. Most lose about half their body weight. Mothers and pups spend a lot of time sleeping, with mothers throwing sand over themselves once in a while.
There's all kinds of drama being played out on this small beach, including a sad carcass of a pup that didn't make it. Mom was still waiting for estrus (I assume) before she could return to the ocean.
See the e-sealcam at www.elephantseal.org
Normally I plan ahead, but this was mostly a fly by the seat of the pants trip. Hwy 1 along the Pacific Coast had a surprise in store for me (my husband apparently knew about it). The end of January and beginning of February activity at the San Simeon elephant seal rookery was at its noisy peak. Mothers defending their spots in their middle sized voices, pups squealing to be fed in their higher pitched voices, the alpha bull roaring just off shore with a few beta males banished nearby, all made a tremendous racket. For about seven miles, every sandy beach was covered with mothers and pups. Each beach had a bull waiting for the females to come into estrus at the end of the feeding period of about a month. During the entire stay, about 3 months for the bulls, the adults do not eat or drink anything. Most lose about half their body weight.
See the e-sealcam at www.elephantseal.org
As you can see, the State of California Fish and Wildlife has built a protective barrier and viewing area for us humans to watch from a safe distance and not disturb the Elephant Seals.
This seal was making all kinds of noises on the shore. They make interesting sounds...sort of like a grunt and bark at the same time. Notice the long nose. That's why they are called elephant seals. :-)
He doesn't look that large here but elephant seals are quite large. The males go from fourteen to sixteen feet in length and weigh up to 2 1/2 tons. Females average ten to twelve feet in length and weigh 1,200 to 2,000 pounds.
Piedras Blancas, CA