Scientific Name: Hydrurga leptonyx
Population: Estimated at 250,000–400,000 globally
Regions: Antarctic and sub-Antarctic regions; most common in western Antarctica
Destinations: Falkland Islands, South Shetland Islands, Antarctic Peninsula, South Georgia
Average Length: Males: ~2.4–3.0 m (7.9–9.8 ft); Females: ~2.6–3.5 m (8.5–11.5 ft); Newborns: ~120 cm (3.9 ft)
Average Weight: Males: ~200–500 kg (440–1,100 lbs); Females: ~260–600 kg (573–1,320 lbs); Newborns: ~30 kg (66 lbs)
Diet Habits: Juveniles: krill; Adults: penguins, fish, seabirds, and even young seals (crabeater seals, fur seals, and elephant seals)
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Phocidae
Genus: Hydrurga
Species: Hydrurga leptonyx
English: Leopard Seal
Danish: Søleopard
Chinese: 海豹豹 (Hǎibào bào)
Swedish: Leopard säl
Finnish: Merileopardi
Norwegian: Sjøleopard
Polish: Lampart morski
Japanese: ヒョウアザラシ (Hyō azarashi)
Spanish: Foca leopardo
French: Léopard de mer
A leopard seal size is typically of 200 kg to 600 kg in weight and measures between 2.4 m and 3.5 m in length, with females being slightly larger than males. They are regarded as the second-largest type of seal in Antarctica, only surpassed by the massive elephant seal.
The leopard seal diet is very varied. It is a muscular predator with a large mouth, featuring prominent sharp front teeth and molars (about 2.5 cm), occupying the same ecological niche in Antarctica as polar bears do in the Arctic. Baby leopard seals feed mostly on krill, using teeth suitable for this purpose. As it matures, it transitions to a diet that includes penguins, seabirds, and fish. Large leopard seals hunt other seals, including pups of crabeater and fur seals.
Although it is the top predator in Antarctica with the highest position in the food chain, it should also look after itself. The biggest leopard seals predators are the killer whales, but pups may also be vulnerable to larger seals of the same species!
Do you think leopard seals attack humans? That is a controversial question because this top predator is known to be uncommonly curious and almost playful, but at the same time, it can be extremely dangerous to humans. While not common, there have been some reported cases. What usually happens is that they can get quite close and may have bad habits such as biting holes in the pontoons of Zodiacs. Although most encounters assume that those seals are non-aggressive, they should always be approached with caution.
The leopard seal habitat is the pack ice and the edge of the permanent ice, close to penguin colonies in open areas. This species is common throughout Antarctica and is also found on many sub-Antarctic islands, such as South Georgia and the Falkland Islands, as well as occasionally on the southern coasts of southern continents. Its highest concentration is in western Antarctica, south of South America.
Fact #1: Known as the “sea leopards” due to their aggressive hunting method and sizable jaws.
Fact #2: Leopard seal teeth are used to tear and cut prey apart.
Fact #3: Leopard seal attacks on humans are rare, but they could happen!
Fact #4: They are vocal, producing powerful, varied sounds used in different contexts. These sounds are unique and vary by age and gender.
Fact #5: A female leopard seal gives birth to a single pup.
Fact #6: Leopard seal pups are born weighing about 30 kg.
Fact #7: These animals can be very dangerous to most of the wildlife in Antarctica.
Fact #8: Their pups are born during Antarctic midsummer, from November to January, after up to eleven months of pregnancy.
Fact #9: The female looks after the pup while the males disappear in February when they mate again.
Fact #10: They are not endangered, as they are listed as ‘Least Concerned’ on the IUCN Red List.
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