Antarctic Dictionary

leopard seal

Thesaurus

leopard seal

[Leopard from the generally blotched hair of the seal, and perhaps more esp. for its hunting abilities and conspicuous carnivoracity. 'Leopard seal' was also used in early literature for the harbour seal Phoca vitulina on the west coast of North America.]

The large slender seal Hydrurga leptonyx (fam. Phocidae), dark greyish above and paler beneath, with conspicuous blotches and impressive sharp teeth. It is usually solitary, and lives in the Antarctic and subantarctic where it feeds on krill, also eating birds (especially penguins) and other marine animals. Males grow to 3.2 m (10 ft 6 in) and 455 kg (1000 lb), females to 3.4 m (11 ft 2 in) and 590 kg (1300 lb). The older name for this animal is sea leopard.

The Antarctic Dictionary, Hince, 2000; 211