How do male elephant seals compete for groups of females?

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A crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophagus) lies on snow-covered ice with its mouth open, surrounded by broken sea ice in East Antarctica. — seal Crabeater seal (*Lobodon carcinophagus*).

Male elephant seals compete for groups of females, known as harems, through aggressive behavior during the breeding season. To secure these groups, which can consist of up to 40 cows, the bulls engage in physical fights to establish and defend specific territories along beaches.1

These elephant seals are highly gregarious and exhibit significant sexual dimorphism, with males growing much larger than females. This size difference is a key factor in their ability to dominate and maintain control over their harems during the reproductive period.1