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Westarctica (talk | contribs) (Created page with "thumb|300px|left|Leopard seal in Antarctica The '''leopard seal''' (''Hydrurga leptonyx''), also referred to as the sea leopard, is the second larg...") |
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[[File:Leopard seal 1.jpg|thumb|300px| | [[File:Leopard seal 1.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Leopard seal in Antarctica]] | ||
The '''leopard seal''' (''Hydrurga leptonyx''), also referred to as the sea leopard, is the second largest species of seal in the [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] (after the [[southern elephant seal]]). Along with all of the other earless seals, it belongs to the family Phocidae. It is in the tribe of Lobodontini seals, and is the only species in the genus ''Hydrurga''. The name ''hydrurga'' means "water worker" and ''leptonyx'' is the Greek for "small clawed". It is second only to the [[orca|killer whale]] among Antarctica's top predators. | The '''leopard seal''' (''Hydrurga leptonyx''), also referred to as the sea leopard, is the second largest species of seal in the [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] (after the [[southern elephant seal]]). Along with all of the other earless seals, it belongs to the family Phocidae. It is in the tribe of Lobodontini seals, and is the only species in the genus ''Hydrurga''. The name ''hydrurga'' means "water worker" and ''leptonyx'' is the Greek for "small clawed". It is second only to the [[orca|killer whale]] among Antarctica's top predators. | ||
==Description== | ==Description== | ||
The leopard seal has a distinctively long and muscular body shape, when compared to other seals. This species of seal is known for its massive head and jaws that allow it to be one of the top predators in its environment. A notable key feature of leopard seals are their counter-shaded coats. A counter-shaded coat is when the dorsal side of the coat is darker, than ventral side. So, in leopard seals they have a silver to dark gray blended coat that make up its distinctive "leopard" coloration. Whereas, the ventral side of the coat are paler in color- ranging from white to light gray. Females are slightly larger than the males. The overall length of this seal is 2.4–3.5 m (7.9–11.5 ft) and weight is from 200 to 600 kilograms (440 to 1,320 lb). They are about the same length as the northern walrus, but usually less than half the weight. | The leopard seal has a distinctively long and muscular body shape, when compared to other seals. This species of seal is known for its massive head and jaws that allow it to be one of the top predators in its environment. A notable key feature of leopard seals are their counter-shaded coats. A counter-shaded coat is when the dorsal side of the coat is darker, than ventral side. So, in leopard seals they have a silver to dark gray blended coat that make up its distinctive "leopard" coloration. Whereas, the ventral side of the coat are paler in color- ranging from white to light gray. Females are slightly larger than the males. The overall length of this seal is 2.4–3.5 m (7.9–11.5 ft) and weight is from 200 to 600 kilograms (440 to 1,320 lb). They are about the same length as the northern walrus, but usually less than half the weight. | ||
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===Foraging behavior=== | ===Foraging behavior=== | ||
The leopard seal is second only to the [[orca|killer whale]] among Antarctica's top predators. Its canine teeth are 2.5 cm (1 in). It feeds on a wide variety of creatures. Young leopard seals probably eat mostly [[krill]], squid, and fish. Adult seals probably switch from krill to more substantial prey, including king, adelie, rockhopper, gentoo, emperor, and [[chinstrap penguin|chinstrap penguins]], and less frequently, Weddell, [[crabeater seal|crabeater]], Ross, and young Southern elephant seals. Leopard seals have also been filmed eating fur seal pups. | [[File:Leopard seal 05.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Leopard seal yawning]] | ||
The leopard seal is second only to the [[orca|killer whale]] among Antarctica's top predators. Its canine teeth are 2.5 cm (1 in). It feeds on a wide variety of creatures. Young leopard seals probably eat mostly [[krill]], squid, and fish. Adult seals probably switch from krill to more substantial prey, including king, adelie, rockhopper, [[gentoo penguin|gentoo]], [[emperor penguin|emperor]], and [[chinstrap penguin|chinstrap penguins]], and less frequently, Weddell, [[crabeater seal|crabeater]], Ross, and young Southern elephant seals. Leopard seals have also been filmed eating fur seal pups. | |||
Around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, the Antarctic fur seal (''Arctocephalus gazella'') is the main prey. Other prey include penguins and fish. [[Antarctic krill]] (''Euphausia superba''), [[southern elephant seal]] (''Mirounga leonina'') pups and seabirds other than penguins have also been taken as prey. | Around the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia, the Antarctic fur seal (''Arctocephalus gazella'') is the main prey. Other prey include penguins and fish. [[Antarctic krill]] (''Euphausia superba''), [[southern elephant seal]] (''Mirounga leonina'') pups and seabirds other than penguins have also been taken as prey. | ||
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==Attacks on humans== | ==Attacks on humans== | ||
[[File:Leopard seal human comparison.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Comparison of the size of a leopard seal (average size of 2.4–3.5 m (7.9–11.5 ft)) and a human (assumed height of 1.82 m (6 ft)).]] | |||
Leopard seals are potentially highly dangerous towards humans, but attacks are rarely reported. Examples of aggressive behavior, stalking and attacks have been documented. Notable incidents include: | Leopard seals are potentially highly dangerous towards humans, but attacks are rarely reported. Examples of aggressive behavior, stalking and attacks have been documented. Notable incidents include: | ||