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Difference between revisions of "Weddell seal"
→Diet and predation
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Scientists believe Weddell seals rely mainly on eyesight to hunt for food when light is available. However, during the Antarctic winter darkness, when no light is available under the ice where the seals forage, they rely on other senses, primarily the sense of touch from their vibrissae or whiskers, which are not just hairs, but very complicated sense organs with more than 500 nerve endings that attach to the animal’s snout. The hairs allow the seals to detect the wake of swimming fish and use that to capture prey. | Scientists believe Weddell seals rely mainly on eyesight to hunt for food when light is available. However, during the Antarctic winter darkness, when no light is available under the ice where the seals forage, they rely on other senses, primarily the sense of touch from their vibrissae or whiskers, which are not just hairs, but very complicated sense organs with more than 500 nerve endings that attach to the animal’s snout. The hairs allow the seals to detect the wake of swimming fish and use that to capture prey. | ||
Weddell seals have no natural predators when on fast ice. At sea or on pack ice, they become prey for [[orca|killer whales]] and [[leopard | Weddell seals have no natural predators when on fast ice. At sea or on pack ice, they become prey for [[orca|killer whales]] and [[leopard seal]]s, which prey primarily on juveniles and pups. The Weddell seal is protected by the [[Antarctic Treaty]] and the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals. | ||
[[Category:Seals]] | [[Category:Seals]] | ||
[[Category:Animals of Westarctica]] | [[Category:Animals of Westarctica]] | ||