Mammals · Carnivora · Phocidae

Weddell Seal

Leptonychotes weddellii

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Weddell seal is a pinniped mammal of the family Phocidae. It was named in honour of Sir James Weddell, commander of the British marine expedition to the Weddell Sea. They live in large groups and inhabit the circumpolar region of the southern hemisphere, Antarctica. There were an estimated 800,000 individuals in prehistoric times. They are seen regularly on the many ice-free islands of the Antarctic Peninsula. It is not a migratory species, and its local movements are the result of changes in ice conditions.

Weight

400 kg – 600 kg

Size

2.5 m – 3.3 m

Lifespan

30 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

OceanPolarCarnivore Colonial Ocean Polar Mammal

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Fun facts

comportamientoIt gives birth on Antarctic fast ice and can stay under the frozen surface, finding its breathing holes from a remembered map of the area.
It gnaws the ice with its incisors and canines to keep its breathing holes open all winter, work that wears down its teeth and ends up limiting its life expectancy.
It is the southernmost-living mammal in the world: there are colonies breeding less than 1,300 kilometres from the geographic South Pole.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Fast sea ice and coastal waters of Antarctica and the subantarctic islands
Sexual maturity: 3.7 years
Gestation / incubation: 10 months
Litter / clutch size: 1

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leptonychotes_weddellii