Weddell seals
Leptonychotes weddellii
Weddell seals are named for Captain James Weddell, an explorer in the 1820s whose book described and illustrated Weddell seals. Weddell seals are fairly large. Males are bigger than females, and may reach lengths of up to 2.9 m and weights of as much as 400-600 kg.
Weddell seals live in and around the Antarctic. They eat mainly fish, but may also eat cephalopods (a class that includes squids and octopuses) and crustaceans (a group that includes crabs and shrimp). Weddell seals often dive to depths of 300-400 m, and may dive to depths of up to 600 m. Most dives average 15 minutes long, but a 73 minute dive has been recorded.
Weddell seals are not considered threatened or endangered.
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