The leopard seal, also known as the 'sea leopard', is absolutely massive! How large is a leopard seal? Leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) are large but slender seals, with big heads and jaws that give them a frightening, dinosaur-like appearance. They may occupy some sub-Antarctic islands year-round including Heard Island. Leopard seals are second only amongst seal species to elephant seals in terms of size. Some remain near penguin colonies to capture prey, while others prefer to eat crabeater seal pups. Other leopard seals prefer a sub-Antarctic menu migrating north to Heard Island to feed on penguin and seal pups there. read more 2.) Females are usually slightly larger than males. The females will carry a pup for eleven months and then deliver it in a hole they have dug in the ice. Some of the vocalisations made by leopard seals includes grunts and growls. The leopard seal is named for its black-spotted coat.The pattern is similar to that of the famous big cat, though the seal’s coat is gray rather than golden in color. The zodiac vainly blew air in the seal's face as its teeth tore into the rear pontoon. Fast Facts: Leopard Seal Scientific Name: Hydrurga leptonyx Common Names: Leopard seal, sea leopard Basic Animal Group: Mammal Size: 10-12 feet Weight: 800-1000 pounds Lifespan: 12-15 years Diet: Carnivore Habitat: Sea around Antarctica Population: 200,000 Conservation Status: … (600 kg). Leopard seals eat almost anything, including penguins, fish, squid, and crustaceans. The prey most commonly includes various species of penguins, squid, fish, and even other species of seals. Heron Island is a subtropical island in the southern part of the Great Barrier Reef — quite some distance from the Antarctic! Populations of this type of animal at the moment nothing is threatened. They only live in small groups which is also quite different from other species of seals. Leopard seals have a varied diet. https://oceanwide-expeditions.com/to-do/wildlife/leopard-seal They are very strong animals and they tend to take over the areas where they reside. Like the crabeater seals, leopard seals have unusual teeth for straining krill from the water. They also eat the pups of other seal species including crabeater, Weddell and southern fur seals. They can also be about 11 feet long. Due to the aggressive nature of the Leopard Seals, there is still plenty we don’t know about their reproduction. The leopard seal also referred to as the sea leopard, is the second largest species of seal in the Antarctic (after the southern elephant seal).. Then they will thrash them back and forth against the ground until they are dead. Leopard seals may live for 26 years or more. The females are larger than the males, but the male individuals still quite large compared to other types of seals. The "sea leopard", about 12 ft (3.7 m) long and 1,100 lb (500 kg), chased Orde-Lees on the ice. They also eat cephalopods, fish and other seal species, especially newly-weaned crabeater seals during December and January. Leopard seals can live up to 26 years in the wild. They can also be about 11 feet long. A big leopard seal was picking a gruesome fight to the death with the stern of one of the base's Zodiacs. Their life expectancy is anywhere between twelve and fifteen years. . Leopard seals are the third largest seal in the world Female leopard seals, the larger of the two sexes, can grow up to 590 kg (1,300 pounds) and 3.8m meters (10 feet) long. Adult leopard seals range from about 7.9-11.5 ft. (2.4-3.5 m) long. They are very strong animals and they tend to take over the areas where they reside. They prey on krill, fish, squid, Antarctic species of penguins, sea birds, crabeater, Weddell, young elephant seals, and fur seals. The Leopard Seal is the second largest of all seals out there. The leopard seal can grow from a length range of 7.9 to 11.5 feet and a weight range of 440 to 1,320 pounds. It is believed this is due to them feeling threatened rather than finding something that they are interested in eating. 1.) Leopard seals have unique cheek teeth that are shaped to allow them to strain krill from the water. Well, how about the leopard seal? The leopard seal is easily identified: designed for speed, the body is slender and the fore-flippers long. They are dark gray in color and can weigh up to 1,300 pounds. The leopard seal has very large fore-flippers, making it a fast and graceful swimmer, but clumsy on land. One large adult leopard was grabbed and consumed by a large crocodile while attempting to hunt along a bank in Kruger National Park. The females are larger than the males, but the male individuals still quite large compared to other types of seals. The Leopard Seal also evolved as a predator. Leopard seals are long, smooth, carnivorous mammals with a rounded head, big snout, large mouths, and flippers on all four feet (which enclose both their elbows and knees). They are fast moving on land so they have no trouble catching their desired prey either on land or in the water. 4.) Their loose jaw can open as far as 160 degrees. Some of them though prefer the warmer climates. Don’t Feed the Photographers! . The seal had the hapless craft in its massive jaws. They are perhaps the greatest wanderers of the Antarctic seals with sightings in Tasmania and a northern record at Heron Island. Nile crocodiles prey on leopards occasionally. Are leopard seals carnivores or herbivores? Leopard seals eat an amazingly large variety of food, using their wide gaping mouths and massive jaws to great effect. Because leopard seals are solitary animals that live in the Antarctic pack ice, little is known of their biology. A leopard seal eats a variety of things including humans... Nah just joking. Leopard seals have been identified in Australia, New Zealand and South Africa where it is much warmer than the Antarctic. Fierce and feline-looking, leopard seals are named for their distinctive black-spotted coat and strong, toothy jaws that resemble those of the big cat. Leopard seals are long, smooth, carnivorous mammals with a rounded head, big snout, large mouths, and flippers on all four feet (which enclose both their elbows and knees). Being seals, not sea lions, they do not have visible ear flaps. Hydrurga leptonyx means “slender-clawed water-worker.” There’s still a lot to learn about Leopard Seals, like specifics of their mating habits. The Leopard seal is the second biggest of the seal species. These seals swim so fast they can "jump" out of the sea onto the edge of the ice to get prey such as penguins. In the water they are able to swallow fish or to tear off large portions of big prey they find in there. Humans that observe Leopard Seals, known not to get too close to them due to their aggressive nature. and reach lengths of nearly 12 feet. Our researchers are interested in the factors that drive the cyclic nature of the occurrence of leopard seals at Macquarie Island and Tasmania, and are studying seal movements within the pack-ice zone. Leopard seals, believe it or not, have lots of spots. How big is the leopard seal jaw? (200 kg) to 1320 lbs. Big Animals – Leopard Seals, Antarctica. They are very strong animals and they tend to take over the areas where they reside. Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment. Their bodies are long and slender, and their heads appear to be almost too large for their serpent-like bodies. Their loose jaw can open as far as 160 degrees. Leopard seals eat almost anything, including penguins, fish, squid, and crustaceans. So it was a big surprise to discover wild leopard seals feeding alongside one another while eating king penguins at South Georgia, a remote island in the southern Atlantic Ocean. The leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) is easily identified by its long slim body and comparatively large fore-flippers. Environmental Impact Assessment approvals, Australia and the Antarctic Treaty System, Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources, What happens before departure & on arrival at station, Message for family and friends of expeditioners, Classification of scientific publications, Antarctic Strategy and Action Plan: Prime Minister’s Foreword. Mugger crocodiles reportedly killed an adult leopard in Rajasthan. Leopard seals rank alongside killer whales as Antarctica's top predator. And like their namesake, these seals are fast and ferocious hunters—Antarctica’s apex predator along with killer whales. These seals swim so fast they can "jump" out of the sea onto the edge of the ice to get prey such as penguins. Leopard seals have very individual tastes. When it is time to reproduce, the Leopard Seals will come together in larger groups. Larger leopard seals eat krill (estimated 45% of diet), other seals (30%), penguins (10%) and fish (10%). The head is large and the jaws open widely revealing exceptionally long canines and unusually complex sharply pointed molars. However, attacks on humans are rare. They love krill, fish, and other items found in the waters. Sexual maturity occurs at the age of 3-4 years, which is quite early. . Other animals don’t bother the offspring but at times the males can show aggression towards them. Diet and feeding. In the winter months, young leopard seals from the south visit Macquarie Island. The only natural predator of leopard seals is the killer whale. Like the crabeater seals, leopard seals … They kill penguins and small seals by grabbing them with their feet. The zodiac vainly blew air in the seal's face as its teeth tore into the rear pontoon. Leopard seals are apex predators presenting a potential risk to humans. The diet of the Leopard seal is similar to others in many ways. Female leopard seals of 6 years or more give birth to a single pup on the sea-ice in November after a 9 month gestation, and then return to the ocean to feed. You will find this type of seal living in the very cold regions of the Antarctic. Covered in a thin coat of fur, this species can be identified by the dark gray or black colors on the head and back and the white or light gray around the belly. Catching the prey, the leopard can reach speeds of up to 40 km / h. Because of the streamlined shape of the body, this seal resembles a torpedo, which facilitates movement at high speed. 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