The leopard seal is the second largest of the Antarctic seals. The leopard seal is named for its spotted coat. The body of a leopard seal is silver to dark gray on top. A leopard seal has a large head. It has big jaws. A leopard seal has a slender body. Its front flippers are long. They are designed for speed.
Leopard seals differ in size. Female leopard seals are larger than male leopard seals. Adult female leopard seals are about 2.9 to 3.6 metres long. Adult male leopard seals are about 2.8 to 3.3 metres long. An average male leopard seal weighs about 320 kilograms. The largest females weigh about 500 kilograms. A pup weighs about 30 kilograms or more at birth.
Leopard seals eat penguins, fish and squid. They also eat the pups of other seals. Krill is an important food for leopard seals. A leopard seal has unusual teeth. They are for straining krill from the water. What a leopard seal eats changes with the season. What it eats also changes with how much of each food is nearby.
The leopard seal lives mostly on and around the pack ice of Antarctica. Leopard seals also live in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters. Leopard seals usually live alone. Some leopard seals travel far to the north of Antarctica. Sightings of leopard seals include Tasmania. A leopard seal catches most of its food in the water.
Leopard seals mate in December and early January. Leopard seals are believed to mate in the water. A mother leopard seal gives birth to a single pup on the sea ice. Pups are usually born in November and December. A leopard seal pup is nursed for about four weeks. A leopard seal may live for 26 years or more.
Words to know
- slender: thin
- krill: tiny sea animals
- flippers: swim limbs
- nursed: fed milk
The short version
The leopard seal is the second largest of the Antarctic seals. It lives mostly on and around the pack ice of Antarctica and is named for its spotted coat. It eats penguins, fish, squid and krill, and what it eats changes with the season.
Quick facts
- The leopard seal is the second largest of the Antarctic seals.
- A leopard seal has a spotted coat, silver to dark gray on top.
- Leopard seals eat penguins, fish and squid.
- Krill is an important food for leopard seals.
- A mother leopard seal gives birth to a single pup on the sea ice.
Where do leopard seals live?
Leopard seals live mostly on and around the pack ice of Antarctica, in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters. Some travel far north of Antarctica, and sightings include Tasmania.
What do leopard seals eat?
Leopard seals eat penguins, fish and squid. Krill is an important food for them. What a leopard seal eats changes with the season and with how much of each food is nearby.
