Leopard seals exhibit a behavior extremely unique to pinnipeds – while underwater, they sing. Some individuals will occasionally drift into waters off the coast of South America, New Zealand, Australia and Africa though this is uncommon. However, the seal's molars lock together to make a sieve that allows it to filter krill from the water. Because of this, finding a mate could potentially be difficult, and this is why it is theorized that both male and female leopard seals sing during breeding season. The leopard seal will eat just about any other animals. Leopard seals hunt krill, fish, squid, a number of penguin species, and smaller seal species. However, these marine mammals are not simply the voracious predators that they’ve been made out to be. They have a large, reptile-like head with a long, flexible neck. These seals swim so fast they can "jump" out of the sea onto the edge of the ice to get prey such as penguins. They have a color gradient that shifts from white on their underside, to dark gray on their backs. You can find out more about Antarctica here: Antarctica Facts. The leopard seal is known for its voracious appetite, and it can be a quite intimidating character due to its immense size. Males mature a bit later, typically between ages six and seven. Leopard seals are most frequently found in the waters around western Antarctica, but they are known to inhabit the oceans surrounding the entire continent. They have also been sighted as far as the southern coasts of South America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.

During the austral summer, male leopard seals sing (loudly) underwater for hours each day. The overall body shape is long and slender, which makes them very agile when in the water. Instead of an angry sea-demon, he encountered a sympathetic female leopard seal that seemed to think that he was a smaller, less intelligent leopard seal. At birth, the pup weighs around 66 pounds. According to the IUCN Red List, the total Leopard seal population number is more than 35,000 individuals and it is classified as Least Concern (LC). When diving, a Leopard seal's nose closes automatically and stays shut until it surfaces. She has taught science courses at the high school, college, and graduate levels. Unlike other species of Antarctic seals, leopard seals were not frequently hunted for their coats. The mouth of the leopard seal turns upward at the edges, resembling a smile. Leopard seals have not been domesticated in any way, and are very infrequently kept in zoos and aquariums. In the winter (May–October) they range northward to the sub-Antarctic islands. All photos used are royalty-free, and credits are included in the Alt tag of each image.

Leopard seals live in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters of the Ross Sea, Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea, South Georgia, and Falkland Islands. It is a truly interesting experience, and you can view the TED Talk here. Read on to learn about the leopard seal. Leopard Seal on The IUCN Red List site -, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leopard_seal, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/10340/0. The leopard seal’s greatest danger is man-made threats, such as diminishing pack ice due to global climate change. This information is limited however, and additional research would be necessary to determine the most effective care. Females generally stock up on food prior to giving birth, which takes place in a hole amongst the pack ice. The leopard seal is earless, about 10 to 12 feet long (females slightly larger than males), weighs between 800 and 1000 pounds, and always seems to be smiling because the edges of its mouth curl upward. Scientists are uncertain of the reason for this behavior, but believe it may help hone hunting skills or might simply be for sport. Leopard seals are highly dangerous predators. Each male has a distinct call, although the calls change depending on the seal's age. They are also threatened by overfishing, which could potentially collapse the food chain. The leopard seal story begins at 10:48 in the video. They have long bodies (10 to 11.5 feet) and elongated heads. While attacks of humans are rare, cases of aggression, stalking, and fatalities have been documented. You might think the obvious identifying feature of the leopard seal is its black-spotted coat. in the middle of the southern hemisphere's summer, 2. Leopard seals, like sea lions, have large front flippers with which they steer and move through the water. Over this base color, leopard seals are dappled with gray or black spots. Leopard seals live in the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic waters of the Ross Sea, Antarctic Peninsula, Weddell Sea, South Georgia, and Falkland Islands. Environmental changes have dramatically affected species the seals eat, so this number is likely inaccurate. The mother protects her pup until it can take care of itself; male seals do not take part in parental care. A small number are found year round on the nearby sub-Antarctic islands just beyond the pack ice. Leopard seals are an extremely unique species of marine mammal. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete. While the photographer was in the water with a ten-foot long female leopard seal, the seal began to do something truly remarkable – she began to feed the photographer.

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