Remarks on display functions of the snout of the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus (Fab.), with comparative notes
Adult males of the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus (Fab.) (Phocidae), display the large snout conspicuously in threats. The male's snout has probably evolved through sexual selection as a visual display organ, as in some other extant phocids: the hooded seal, Cystophora cristata (Nilsson) and the...
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1979
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crcansciencepubl:10.1139/z79-011 2023-12-17T10:29:20+01:00 Remarks on display functions of the snout of the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus (Fab.), with comparative notes Miller, E. H. Boness, D. J. 1979 http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z79-011 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z79-011 en eng Canadian Science Publishing http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 57, issue 1, page 140-148 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics journal-article 1979 crcansciencepubl https://doi.org/10.1139/z79-011 2023-11-19T13:39:07Z Adult males of the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus (Fab.) (Phocidae), display the large snout conspicuously in threats. The male's snout has probably evolved through sexual selection as a visual display organ, as in some other extant phocids: the hooded seal, Cystophora cristata (Nilsson) and the two species of elephant seals, Mirounga (Gray). This may also be true of the extinct desmatophocid Allodesmus Kellogg. Cephalic display organs in the form of long tusks have also evolved twice in the Odobenidae (walruses). Comparable display structures do not occur in the Otariidae (fur seals and sea lions). However, the massive neck of adult male otariids is important in undirected static-optical threat displays, especially at long range, and in some kinds of short-range threats. Also, adult otariids show sexual dimorphism in facial appearance, which varies interspecifically.Pinniped species in which large mature males have prominent, constant-growing cephalic display structures show fluid spacing among rutting males, and much agonistic communication at the water surface and on land or ice. This correlation may reflect selective pressures on males to affirm social status repeatedly, through displays which communicate their age (hence strength and experience), and their resource-accruing abilities. Article in Journal/Newspaper Cystophora cristata Elephant Seals hooded seal walrus* Canadian Science Publishing (via Crossref) Canadian Journal of Zoology 57 1 140 148 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Canadian Science Publishing (via Crossref) |
op_collection_id |
crcansciencepubl |
language |
English |
topic |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
spellingShingle |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics Miller, E. H. Boness, D. J. Remarks on display functions of the snout of the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus (Fab.), with comparative notes |
topic_facet |
Animal Science and Zoology Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics |
description |
Adult males of the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus (Fab.) (Phocidae), display the large snout conspicuously in threats. The male's snout has probably evolved through sexual selection as a visual display organ, as in some other extant phocids: the hooded seal, Cystophora cristata (Nilsson) and the two species of elephant seals, Mirounga (Gray). This may also be true of the extinct desmatophocid Allodesmus Kellogg. Cephalic display organs in the form of long tusks have also evolved twice in the Odobenidae (walruses). Comparable display structures do not occur in the Otariidae (fur seals and sea lions). However, the massive neck of adult male otariids is important in undirected static-optical threat displays, especially at long range, and in some kinds of short-range threats. Also, adult otariids show sexual dimorphism in facial appearance, which varies interspecifically.Pinniped species in which large mature males have prominent, constant-growing cephalic display structures show fluid spacing among rutting males, and much agonistic communication at the water surface and on land or ice. This correlation may reflect selective pressures on males to affirm social status repeatedly, through displays which communicate their age (hence strength and experience), and their resource-accruing abilities. |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Miller, E. H. Boness, D. J. |
author_facet |
Miller, E. H. Boness, D. J. |
author_sort |
Miller, E. H. |
title |
Remarks on display functions of the snout of the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus (Fab.), with comparative notes |
title_short |
Remarks on display functions of the snout of the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus (Fab.), with comparative notes |
title_full |
Remarks on display functions of the snout of the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus (Fab.), with comparative notes |
title_fullStr |
Remarks on display functions of the snout of the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus (Fab.), with comparative notes |
title_full_unstemmed |
Remarks on display functions of the snout of the grey seal, Halichoerus grypus (Fab.), with comparative notes |
title_sort |
remarks on display functions of the snout of the grey seal, halichoerus grypus (fab.), with comparative notes |
publisher |
Canadian Science Publishing |
publishDate |
1979 |
url |
http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/z79-011 http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/z79-011 |
genre |
Cystophora cristata Elephant Seals hooded seal walrus* |
genre_facet |
Cystophora cristata Elephant Seals hooded seal walrus* |
op_source |
Canadian Journal of Zoology volume 57, issue 1, page 140-148 ISSN 0008-4301 1480-3283 |
op_rights |
http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/page/about/CorporateTextAndDataMining |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1139/z79-011 |
container_title |
Canadian Journal of Zoology |
container_volume |
57 |
container_issue |
1 |
container_start_page |
140 |
op_container_end_page |
148 |
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1785581688636571648 |