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Leopard Seals: Second Largest Species In The Antarctic

   

The Leopard Seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) is a seal belonging to the family Phocidae. It is the only species in its genus. Leopard Seals are the second largest species of seal in the Antarctic (after Southern Elephant Seals), and are near the top of the Antarctic food chain. During the summer months, they hunt among the pack ice surrounding the continent, spending almost all of their time in the water. In the winter, they range north to the sub-Antarctic islands. Occasionally, individuals may be spotted on the southern coasts of South America, Australia, and New Zealand, and as far north as the Cook Islands. The animals are generally solitary, gathering only in the breeding season. Leopard Seals are bold, powerful and curious. Though aggressive behaviour and Leopard Seal attacks on humans had been previously documented, this was the first known incident in which a human had been killed by the animal. Leopard Seals have also been known to snap at people’s feet through holes in the ice.

Source: http://www.lifeinthefastlane.ca // http://en.wikipedia.org