One of the 13 seals on WAnimals
Mammals · Carnivora · Phocidae
Hydrurga leptonyx
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
It is considered the most aggressive seal and one of the most versatile predators in the Southern Ocean, with specialised rear molars that interlock to strain krill from the water.
Weight
320 kg – 500 kg
Size
2.4 m – 3.5 m
Life expectancy
20 years
Diet
Carnivore
Feeds mainly on other animals.
Activity
Irregular activity
Active at irregular times, by day or night depending on circumstances.
Social structure
Solitary
Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.
AI-generated images: illustrations, not photographs.
Sources consulted: MarineBio · Antarctic and Southern Ocean Coalition · Dimensions.com · SeaWorld/United Parks · Oceanwide Expeditions · AnAge (genomics.senescence.info) · A-Z Animals · Springer (reproductive biology study)
The pins mark the parks and dive sites where its presence is documented.
Parks and dive sites where this species has been documented — showing 13 of 19.
Other species in the catalogue with the most in common with Leopard Seal — same habitat, park, country, tags or family.
Based on what we already know about leopard seal.
