Male Elephant Seals Say One Word All Their Lives, Their Own Name
Sneaker males sneak into the alpha's harem and whisper it to females behind his back.
The Rest Is Science · The Fluid Dynamics of Fountain PensMale elephant seals say just one word their entire lives, and it is their own name, repeated over and over.
The seals are named for the males' long, trunklike nose. They gather in groups where one dominant alpha controls access to a cluster of females.
The trouble comes from beta males known as sneakers. They circle the group, tuck in their noses to pass as females, and slip inside when the alpha is not looking. Then one sidles up to a female, lays out a flipper, and whispers his own name in her ear.
Questions people ask
Why would just saying a name impress a female?
It works as an identity badge. A female can tell which male is courting her without looking, and a distinctive, confident call can signal a healthy male worth mating with, even if he is not the alpha.
How do scientists know it is really a name?
Each male produces a rhythmic, low drumming call with a personal pattern of pulses and pitch. Researchers record males over seasons and find the pattern stays stable for an individual, while differing clearly between males, which is why it functions like a name.
What happens if the alpha catches a sneaker?
He will chase and bite the intruder. Alpha elephant seals can weigh more than 4,000 pounds, and fights over females are bloody and sometimes fatal, so sneaking rather than fighting is a safer strategy for smaller males.