Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddelli) basking in the summer sun near the Antarctic Peninsula. Weddell seals are found near the fast ice of the Antarct

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Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddelli) basking in the summer sun near the Antarctic Peninsula. Weddell seals are found near the fast ice of the Antarctic continent and some nearby islands. They grow to a length of 3 metres and can weigh up to 450 kilograms. The females are usually bigger than the males. Weddell seals remain under the ice during the winter months, and breath through holes they create in the ice with their teeth. They have well-developed eyesight that allows them to locate the breathing holes in low visibility. Their eyesight also allows them to feed in low light conditions and they use their whiskers to assist in finding food.

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Size: 5060px × 3463px
Photo credit: © DAVID VAUGHAN/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: animal, antarctic, antarctica, aquatic, basking, face, head, leptonychotes, mammal, marine, nature, peninsula, pinnipeds, sea, seal, single, summer, sun, weddell, weddelli, whiskers, wildlife, zoology