What does a Weddell seal look like?

What does a Weddell seal look like?

Weddell seals are large animals. Both adult males and females are about 3 metres long and weigh around 400–500kg. The head is small relative to body size and the colour is usually dappled grey and black on the back with a mostly white under-belly.

Do Weddell seals have fur?

The Weddell seal grows a thin fur coat around its whole body except for small areas around the flippers.

Can Weddell seals breathe underwater?

Weddell seals can dive up to 2,000 feet down and stay under for up to 45 minutes. But no matter how deep they dive, like all marine mammals, they must surface to breathe. If natural openings are not available, Weddell seals use their teeth to open and maintain air holes in the ice pack.

How has the Weddell seal adapted?

Smooth, streamlined shape to pass easily through the water. Large eyes to help hunting prey under water and frequently under ice where light levels are very low. Whiskers (vibrissae) that help the seals feel their way in the dark when catching prey.

How do Weddell seals keep warm?

Body Temperature Regulation When cold, seals rely on their thick layer of blubber, or fat, to keep their organs insulated. Younger seals’ skin is kept warm by a layer of water-repellent fur, which remains until the seals grow the fat layer.

What is Weddell seals life span?

30 years
How long do Weddell Seals live? Weddell Seals live 30 years on average.

What is the Weddell seals habitat?

Antarctica
The Weddell seal is found in circumpolar Antarctica and is most abundant near the Antarctic coast. In the austral winter it moves northward with the expansion of the pack ice, staying in the water to avoid blizzards and poking its head through breathing holes.

How does Weddell seal keep itself warm?

Weddell seals are adapted to the severe cold like many other Arctic and Antarctic animals. They have large amounts of blubber and thick fur to keep them warm in the cold. They also have other well-known adaptations such as whiskers for sensing prey, flippers for swimming, and streamlined bodies for faster and more efficient swimming.

What is the lifespan of a Weddell seal?

The average lifespan of a Weddell seal is about 30 years. Weddell seal is a relatively large seal. It measure about 2.5-3.5 m (8 ft 2 in-11 ft 6 in) long and weigh 400-600 kg (880-1,320 lb). Males weigh less than females, usually about 500 kg (1,100 lb) or less.

What do Weddell seals look like?

Weddell Seals are placid animals that have a body length between 2.5 and 2.9 m (8.25 – 9.5 ft) and they weigh between 400 and 600 Kgs (880 – 1,320 lbs). They are silver/grey in colour and they have short dense fur that protects them from water temperatures as low as -2°C (28°F).

What do Weddell seal eat?

Weddell seals are top predators in the Antarctic. They eat an array of fish, bottom-feeding prawns, cephalopods and crustaceans. A sedentary adult eats around 10 kg (22 lb) a day, while an active adult eats over 50 kg (110 lb) a day. Cod icefish constitute the majority of their diet.