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Leopard seals are the only seals that routinely feed on
endothermic ("warm-blooded") vertebrates: they are well-known
for killing and eating penguins (we once watched one female catch and eat
14 Adelie penguins in 2.5 hours near Palmer Station) but will also attack
small crabeater seals. Nevertheless, much of
their food is standard fair for Antarctic seals: fish and krill (a small
and extremely abundant shrimplike crustacean). Leopard seals have a somewhat
spooky dinosaur-like expression (some prefer to use 'eel-like', 'lizard-like',
or 'snake-like') and their habit of following small boats -- presumably
out of curiosity -- can lead to some anxiety, as they are very large animals
(400+ kilograms, 3.5 meters long) with very impressive teeth. In 2003, a British Antarctic Service scientist was killed by a leopard seal while diving; I think this is the first and only recorded human fatality caused by this species. |
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