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Description
Weddell seals are found only in the Antarctic region. These seals can dive for up to 73 minutes and reach a depth of 600 m (almost 2,000 ft), though they mostly dive to 300-400 m (980-1310 ft).They are one of the largest seals. Adults are approximately 3 m (9.8 ft) long and can weigh as much as 400-600 kg (880-1320 lb). They have very large bodies and tiny heads. It has been said that the Weddell seal's appearance is as if someone made a mistake while putting the animal together because its head is so small compared to its body. Their fur is dark on the top of the body and lighter underneath, with many silver or white streaks or splashes. Weddell seals are versatile feeders, eating fish, crustaceans, and cephalopods, though they have also been observed to eat chinstrap penguins. They are very creative at extracting fishes from ice crevices. If a fish hides in a crevice, the seal blows bubbles into the water to chase the fish into open water.
Weddell seals make many different types of underwater vocalizations that are used in social interactions. Specific calls are used in territorial displays while others are used in aggression. Weddell seals produce trills, whistles, low frequency buzzes, and chirps. The frequency range of vocalizations is 80 Hz - 24 kHz.
References
Moors, H.B. and Terhune, J.M. 2004. Repetition patterns in Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) underwater multiple element calls. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 116(2): 1261-1270.
Reeves, R.R., Stewart, B.S. and Leatherwood, S. 1992. The Sierra Club Handbook of Seals and Sirenians. San Francisco, CA: Sierra Club Books.
Richardson, W.J., Green, C.R. Jr., Malme, C.I. and Thomson, D.H. 1995. Marine Mammals and Noise. San Diego, CA: Academic Press. pg 197.
Additional Resources
Abgrall, P., Terhune, J.M. and Burton, H.R. 2003. Variation of Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) underwater vocalizations over mesogeographic ranges. Aquatic Mammals 29(2): 268-277.
Thomas, J.A. and Kuechle, V.B. 1982. Quantitative analysis of Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddelli) underwater vocalizations at McMurdo Sound, Antarctica. Journal of the Acoustical Society of America 72(6): 1730-1738.
