(Family Phocidae) True Seals are also know as Earless Seals. Phocids can be divided into two subfamilies, Phocinae and Monachinae. The subfamily Phocinae (Northern Phocids) are found mainly in the Arctic and surrounding areas. The subfamily Monachinae (Southern Phocids) are found in warmer tropical waters and the Antarctic.
Sea Lions True Seals Fur Seals
The Northern Phocids consist of nine species, all of which have well developed claws on their front and hind flippers. The Southern Phocids, also consisting of nine species, all have relatively small claws. The Northern Phocids have three incisor teeth on either side of the upper jaw, whereas the Southern Phocids have two incisors on either side of the upper jaw and two below, with the exception of the Elephant Seals who have one tooth on either side of the lower jaw.
Leopard Seal (Hydrurga leptonyx)
- CLASS: Mammalia
- ORDER: Pinnipedia
- FAMILY: Phocidae
- SUBFAMILY: Monochinae
- GENUS: Hydrurga
- SPECIES: leptonyx
- LENGTH: Males: 2.5m - 3m, Females: 3.0m - 3.5m
- WEIGHT: Males: 270 - 400kg, Females: 370 - 500kg
- DIET: Penguins, other sea birds, young seals, krill, fish, squid
- APPEARANCE: Silver-grey to black on the back and silver or creamy underneath. They possess slate-grey spots on the underside and the reverse on the back where paler spots occur. Leopard Seals have a long neck with a reptile-like head. The females of this species are larger than the males, which is the opposite of most seal.
Leopard Seals are mainly solitary animals that possess a ferocious reputation. When approached, these seals open their mouths widely to reveal their large, sharply pointed teeth in a threatening manner. Leopard Seals predominantly eat red meat; their main food source being penguins, other sea birds and on occasion they prey on the young of other seals.
The Leopard Seal can be found from the shores of the Antarctic continent to the Sub-Antarctic Islands. In summer they are found on the northern edge of the Antarctic pack-ice. In winter they move north to the Sub-Antarctic and cool temperate islands. Leopard Seals are frequently seen near Patagonia, the Falkland Islands, New Zealand, Tasmania and southern Australia.
Most Leopard Seals breed on the pack-ice. Pups are born from September to January, with the peak in births occurring in November and December.
The total population of Leopard Seals is estimated between 250,000 and 500,000 individuals.
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