Weddell Seal Diet

Weddell seals are commonly found on fast ice or ice fastened to land.

Weddell seal diet. 400 450 kg 880 990 lb average length. The life history of this species is well documented. Weddell seal facts basics. Fish crustaceans krill squid prawns cephalopods penguins other seals.

Pups born from september to november females become pregnant again very quickly as the males guard territories around breathing holes there is an implantation delay of 2 months and then the female is pregnant for 11 months typically 2 pups. Weddell seals can stay submerged for up to 80. How do weddell seals feed. 2 5 to 3 5 metres.

Brown or dark silver with lighter coloured dappling on the belly. They live around the south pole on or near the coast of antarctica. 2 9m 9 5 ft males females up to 3 3m 11ft breeding season. According to iucn the global population of weddell seals has been variously estimated at 200 000 to 1 000 000 individuals.

Weddell seal is enormous compared to other seal types. They venturing only 15 20 km 9 to 12 5 mi into the southern ocean to feed. Weddell seal facts weddell seal diet habitat you re going to enjoy some of the most beautiful weddell seal facts including weddell seal diet behavior physical features and reprocution. Weddell seal numbers may decline with increasing temperatures if antarctic sea ice is significantly reduced.

The diet varies with the season and the available prey. Weddell seals are carnivores. The weddell seal feeds mainly on fish as well as cephalopods and crustaceans and hunts below the ice. Phocidae with a circumpolar distribution surrounding antarctica the weddell seal was discovered and named in the 1820s during expeditions led by british sealing captain james weddell to the area of the southern ocean now known as the weddell sea.

The weddell seal leptonychotes weddellii is a relatively large and abundant true seal family. The surprise tactic puts small fish to flight which the seal then devours. They have been known to blow air into cracks in the ice. One seal was repeatedly observed to capture a fish weighing more than 40kg.

They don t migrate and local movements are caused by changes in ice conditions. Underwater swimming occurs under natural ice cracks. Disturbance by vessel noise and close approach by people may also harm this seal. The weddell seal leptonychotes weddellii is a large species of seal and is known to have circumpolar distribution around antarctica.

The weddell seal s high speed swimming capability and keen eyesight facilitate hunting aided by its whiskers or vibrissae which are complicated sense organs that. The weddell seal is a species of seal. Weddell seals are very capable divers remaining under water for up to 45 minutes. Weddell seals can also use air to collect a meal.

Both males and females of weddell seals can grow to lengths of about 3 meters and a weight of 400 500 kg.