Weddell seal  (Leptonychotes weddellii)

The Weddell seal is the most southerly breeding of all mammals (1) (4) (5), and one of the best known Antarctic seal species (2) (6). The spindle-shaped body is generally dark silver-grey in colour, lighter below, and mottled with black, grey and white blotches, which vary between individuals. During summer, the coat may fade to brownish. The muzzle, which is short and blunt, is usually pale in colour, and there are also lighter patches over the eyes. Pups are born with grey or light brown, woolly fur, darker along the back, which is replaced by the adult coat after about four to six weeks (2) (3) (4) (5) (7).

The male and female Weddell seal are similar in appearance, although the female may be slightly larger (2) (3) (4). For most of the year the plumpness of the body makes the head of this species appear disproportionately small, although body weight fluctuates widely between seasons (3) (4) (5). The front flippers are relatively short (3), and bear large black claws, which may aid in gripping the ice. There is a distinct tail (2). The Weddell seal is one of the noisiest seal species, and has an extensive underwater repertoire, with at least 34 different call types recorded, including whistles, buzzes, tweets and chirps. The calls show some regional variation, and are usually audible from some distance, and even from above the ice (2) (4) (6) (8).