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Leopard Seal
Hydrurga leptonyx
The Leopard Seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) truly earns is nickname of "Sea Leopard". It is the primary predator of penguin species in Antarctica and is also known to take other young seals. It also catches fish and krill.
Leopard seals, Hydrurga leptonyx (Blainville, 1820), are large members of the seal family reaching between 2.41-3.38 m in length and weighing between 200-591 kg. Females are slightly larger than males.
Leopard seals will eat almost anything and are aggressive hunters. Unlike any other species of seal, they hunt and kill warm-blooded animals, as well as fish and krill. The favorite food of the leopard seal is the penguin.
Leopard Seal Range
Fast Facts
Type: Mammal Diet: Carnivore Average life span in the wild: 12 to 15 years Size: 10 to 11.5 ft (3 to 3.5 m) Weight: Up to 840 lbs (380 kg) Size relative to a 6-ft (2-m) man: ...
Leopard seals are named after their spotty coats and for being fearsome hunters. As one of the top predators in Anatarctic waters, they fill the niche that polar bears hold in the Arctic.
Leopard seals have uniquely shaped cheek teeth that allow them to strain krill out of seawater.
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An impressive hunter, a hungry leopard seal may burst through a spot of ice near a penguin rookery in an attempt to grasp a penguin chick above.
Leopard Seal Habits
A life in the sea. The leopard seal, like all true seals, is well-adapted for a life in an ocean habitat. It has a streamlined, torpedo-shaped body and propels itself through the water by moving its hind flippers from side to side.
EXPERT: Filming Leopard Seals (photos, audio)
INTERACTIVE: Anatomy of a Leopard Seal
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Leopard Seal
Leopard Seal Illustration
Leopard Seal teeth close-up
Leopard Shark, Stegostoma fasciatum (Hermann, 1783)
Leopard Slug
Leopard Slug Limax maximus
Leopard Whipray, Himantura undulata (Bleeker, 1852)
Leptocephalus ...
Also known as common seals, hair seals, and leopard seals, they enter rivers, and are even found in the Great Lakes. Small seals, they reach a length of up to 6 ft (180 cm) and a weight of up to 250 lb (110 kg).
They want to go to sea to feed, but a hungry Leopard Seal is patrolling the beach just waiting to snatch a penguin. The parade moves to the right with great determination. Then the lead penguins pause and the rest start milling around.
leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx)
When the crabeater seal is approached it snorts, hisses, and bares its teeth. If caught, it rolls over several times.
In addition to global warming and natural predation by sharks, orcas, leopard seals, sea lions and fur seals, other threats to penguins include impacts on habitat due to oil spills, pesticides, construction, ...
Their main enemies are the leopard seal, killer whale, and skua gull. Their legs are set far back on their bodies, they waddle awkwardly on land, and often travel by tobogganing on their bellies over ice.
Many crabeater seals often bear scars from leopard seal and, to a lesser extent, from killer whale attacks.
Scientists consider crabeater seals to be the most abundant of any pinniped species.
In the ocean, leopard seals, fur seals, sea lions, sharks, and killer whales all prey on Humboldts. On land, their eggs and chicks can fall victim to foxes, snakes, and introduced predators like cats and dogs.
Predators: Rockhopper penguins are eaten by blue sharks, leopard seals and fur seals. Eggs and chicks are eaten by many birds, including skuas, petrels, and Dominican gulls.
Instead, penguins are at risk at sea from predators such as the leopard seal. Typically, penguins do not approach closer than about 3 meters (9 ft); they become nervous at about that distance.
The reason for the penguins' distinctive markings is something that is quite common to most creatures who "operate" in the sea. The white underside and a dark upper-side is camouflage against predators (think of leopard seal looking up against the ...
They are found in flocks even at sea. On land the colonies often number in the hundreds of thousands. Natural enemies of the penguin include leopard seals, killer whales, and, in the case of young chicks and eggs, skuas.
deserted ones) are predated upon by skuas, sheathbills, and kelp gulls, while weakened chicks, or those separated from the crèche, are taken by skuas and giant petrels. Whilst at sea, adult macaroni penguins are predated upon by leopard seals and ...
The taste is said to be similar to cod, which led to the common name Antarctic Cod. Other than man, their primary enemies are the Weddell seal, the leopard seal, and Orca.
Squid are the fastest marine invertebrates, using jet propulsion to swim more than 25 miles an hour. At this speed they could keep pace with lithe mammals such as coyotes, snowshoe hares, and leopard seals.
 See also: Leopard, Penguin, Whale, Krill, Squid
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