WEDDELL SEAL Leptonychotes Weddellii

WEDDELL SEAL Leptonychotes weddellii

Document made by the French Southern and Antarctic Lands © TAAF G ar, u snoy ras ht lo te to them allow that detect thewake offish. organs sensory but hairs, just not are which whiskers, or vibrissae their of touch of sense the on rely winter, they Antarctic the of darkness the During speeds. high very at swim to ability eyesightand good very their using ice the under hunt They water. the from access and to maintain to the incisors grind lower their and with abrade ice areas ice that fast Seals in Weddell remain water. the to holes access animals sociable near groups loose congregatein to tend they not but are They minutes. 15-20 for diving m, 50–500 of depths at feed primarily they However, dives. minute 70 undertaking of can capability the have they and depths m 750 over divers: reach prodigious are Seals Weddell BEHAVIOR : Their diet primarilyconsists ofbottom-dwelling icefishes. They also eat crustaceans, cephalopodsandkrill. DIET : ice oronland. pack the on resting water and the in alternatehunting Theybetween coastalareWeddell animals. Seals HABITAT : Weddell Sealsare restricted to theAntarctic continent. GEOGRAPHIC RANGE: l ob a l a

e n t Leptonychotes weddellii Order :Carnivora —Family :Phocidae WEDDELL SEAL 9 months. Active December). lasts and (diapause) later days 40 gestation starts (early underwater occurs mating and pup, their weaning after right oestrus enter Females kg. 100 gain pups while lactation, during and birth after kg 150 lose females Adult weeks). 7 to (6 period prolonged a for nursepups their females Adult kg. 25 average and long m 1.2 about are Newborns latitudes. higher at than latitudes lower at earlier born are Pups two.have often can but pup, single a to birth give generally Females mid-November. through October ice from the on born are pups Seal Weddell years.to 8 7 at males and age of years 6 to 3 at mature on is ratio the and averagefemalesFemales10 male. becometo one species polygamous a is It REPRODUCTION :

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m e n t at risk. species the put not did hunting marginal this but exploration, Antarctic of periods early the throughout dogs and men food for of source important an as served Seals Weddell 2014). December "Least Species, Threatened of as List Red categorized (IUCN concern" is species The • Weight :400-600kg • Size :2.5-3.2m THREATS :