Mammals · Carnivora · Phocidae

Leopard Seal

Hydrurga leptonyx

Least Concern

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

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

Lifespan

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.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

PolarCarnivore Variable activity Solitary Polar Mammal

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Fun facts

It combines active hunting and filter feeding in a single species, which is unusual among pinnipeds.
It eats krill, fish, squid, penguins and smaller seals.
It lives in Antarctic and subantarctic waters of the southern hemisphere.
comportamientoIt is one of the main predators of penguins in Antarctica, and can shake its prey violently to strip off the skin before eating it.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Antarctic and subantarctic waters of the southern hemisphere, among the Antarctic sea ice
Birth weight: 30-35 kg and 1-1.6 m long at birth
Size at birth: 30-35 kg and 1-1.6 m at birth
Gestation / incubation: ~11 months, including ~2 months of delayed implantation
Litter / clutch size: 1 young per birth
Lifespan in captivity: Documented record of up to 17.3 years

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)