Table of Contents
What special features do leopard seals have?
They are identified by their huge reptilian-like head, large toothy mouth, long neck, arched back and long powerful flippers with webbed digits (fingers and toes). The fur on the back is dark grey, the stomach light grey, and the throat area is white with characteristic black spots.
Why is the leopard seal important?
The Leopard Seal, Hydrurga leptonys, preys significantly on several species of vertebrates and invertebrates. Such considerations for the Leopard Seal are important in attempting to understand the dynamics of the Antarctic ecosystem, since this species may exert significant predatory pressure at several trophic levels.
What Does a leopard seal live in?
Antarctic continent
Leopard seals are solitary animals that inhabit pack-ice surrounding the Antarctic continent. They are perhaps the greatest wanderers of the Antarctic seals with sightings in Tasmania and a northern record at Heron Island.
What is the difference between a sea lion and a leopard seal?
Sea lions (left) are brown, bark loudly, “walk” on land using their large flippers and have visible ear flaps. Seals have small flippers, wriggle on their bellies on land, and lack visible ear flaps. Secondly, sea lions have small flaps for outer ears. The “earless” or “true” seals lack external ears altogether.
Can a seal be friendly?
Are seals friendly? Seals are intelligent animals capable of forming social attachments. However, seals encountered on beaches are wild animals that are not accustomed to people and dogs, and they could become aggressive when approached.
What are facts about the leopard seal?
Leopard Seal Quick Facts Other Name (s): Sea leopard Scientific Name: Hydrurga leptonyx Type of Animal: Mammal Animal Family: Phocidae (the earless, or ‘true seal’ family) Where Found: Mainly along the Antarctic coast Life Span: Up to 26 years Length: 2.4-3.5m (7.9-11.6ft) Weight: 200-600kgs (440-1,320lbs) Conservation Status: Least Concern
What are the adaptations of a leopard seal?
These are leopard seal adaptations. Leopard seals whiskers feel for fish in the dark.It helps the leopard seal by finding food. Leopard seals bodys are shaped to go in water and that they have flippers.This helps the leopard seal to swim and move around on land.
What is the behavior of a leopard seal?
Leopard Seal Behavior. Unlike other seal species that swim by moving their hind limbs from side to side, leopard seals are graceful swimmers, using long, powerful, simultaneous strokes with their forelimbs.
What are the natural predators of the leopard seal?
The only natural predators of leopard seals is the killer whale and possibly the elephant seal. Its canine teeth are 2.5 cm (1 in). It feeds on a wide variety of creatures. Young leopard seals will usually eat mostly krill, squid and fish.