Britannica
Sources used in this answer
How does the male hooded seal use its inflatable hood and nasal balloon?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
seal
Crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophagus).
The male hooded seal (Cystophora cristata) possesses unique nasal ornamentation used for social signaling. The animal has a specialized nasal septum that can be inflated to form a reddish balloon in front of its face, while a separate appendage can be inflated into a hood that covers the top of the head and the front of the face.1
These features serve two primary purposes:
* Attracting mates: The displays are used to attract females.1
* Competition: When competing for females, males use these inflations to advertise their strength to other males.1
These displays are characteristic of sexually mature males, whereas the appendage hangs as a wrinkled sac when the animal is relaxed.1