Leopard Seal

Todd Sain Sr.

6 years ago

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Leopard Seal Facts

First of all, don’t let the seemingly gentle appearance of the remarkable animal known as the Leopard Seal fool you. It’s an illusion. This truly amazing animal actually ranks as the second leading predator in all of Antarctica.
This truly magnificent work of Nature also goes by the somewhat tongue-twisting scientific name of the Hydrurga leptonyx. The fantastic marine animal draws its name from specific physical characteristics that it displays.
These remarkable attributes consist of the presence of numerous spots on its deceptively powerful body. In addition to this, the astounding ocean-dwelling creature also represents the second largest species of seal in the Antarctic.
The species is also known for its unpredictable mood swings. It’s able to switch from playfully curious behavior to dangerous aggression without warning. Though not generally threatening to humans, individuals have been known to attack divers.

Ringed Seal Mediterranean Monk Seal Orca

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Leopard Seal Physical Description

The Leopard Seal also evolved as both large and powerful. This makes for a dangerous combination. A rather slight degree of sexual dimorphism also presents itself in this animal. But, in this case, the females are generally slightly larger in size than the males.

The animal commonly attains a length of as much as 11.5 ft (3.5 m). Not only that, these amazingly impressive animals weigh up to 1,320 lb (600 kg). In addition to the omnipresent spots, the seal is a light gray in color on the stomach and a darker gray on the back.

The front teeth of this powerful carnivore remain razor sharp. Yet another interesting adaptation of the Leopard Seal regards its teeth. Nature locks the molars together in a way that allows the animal to filter krill from the water when larger prey is unavailable.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Phocidae
Genus: Hydrurga
Species: H. leptonyx

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Leopard Seal Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The beautiful bet deadly Leopard Seal inhabits a particularly inhospitable part of the world. That holds true due to the fact that it lives exclusively in the extremely cold waters of Antarctica. But, it will migrate within that overall region.

Individuals divide their time between the ice packs and the upper portions of the ocean, never diving very deep. The fabulous and powerful seals also live a primarily solitary life. The sole exception to this appears to occur during mating season.

At this time, which occurs during the spring and summer, many individuals further spend long periods of time underwater, vocalizing. This continues to be believed to be part of the mating ritual. After mating, the female gives birth to a single pup.

The Leopard Seal also evolved as a predator. This powerful creature hunts comparatively large prey, in relation to its body size. But, it also feeds opportunistically. The prey most commonly includes various species of penguins, squid, fish, and even other species of seals.