Leopard seals are the most feared predators in Antarctica. They are large, aggressive and have been known to attack humans. Leopard seals are also one of the few animals that will actively hunt and eat penguins.
The leopard seal is a member of the family Phocidae, or true seals. It gets its name from its black-spotted coat which resembles that of a leopard. The average length of an adult leopard seal is 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) with a weight of 300–400 kg (660–880 lb). Females are generally slightly larger than males.
Leopard seals can be found around Antarctica on ice floes and near shorelines during the summer months when they come to mate. In winter, they can be found farther offshore where the ice pack extends over the continental shelf. These areas usually have little human activity, so leopard seals tend to be more solitary here than at other times of year except when pupping takes place between November and February on fast ice close to shorelines.
Pupping season is a very dangerous time for female leopard seals as male leopard seals will often kill pups that are not their own in order to mate with the mother. For this reason, females give birth in caves or holes in the ice where they can better defend their young.
A single pup is born weighing 30–50 kg (66–110 lb). It has a dark gray coat with light spots which helps it blend in with the rocky surfaces it lives on and makes it harder for predators to spot it from above water. The pup grows quickly, gaining up to 3 kg (6