Hydrurga leptonyx
Range
Antarctic Ocean and shores; occasionally along coasts of South America, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand.Habitat
They live in coastal waters and shores.Body Traits
They can weigh up to 1,000 pounds and reach 10 feet long. Their coat is a silvery-gray with dark spots. They have large front flippers with claws.Habits
They are very fast swimmers.Diet
They eat krill, squid, small seals, penguins, and other birds. Most of their diet is krill, that it strains from the water with its teeth that have special spaces through which it pushes out the sea water and keeps the krill! They also hunt penguins and other seals underwater.Predators
They are killed by humans and killer whales.Reproduction
Females are pregnant for almost 2 months before the baby begins to develop. This is called delayed implantation. Once it begins to grow, it is another 9 months before it is born. So all together the female carries the baby for 11 months (gestation).Lifespan and/or Conservation Status
They can live up to 25 years. They are listed as Lower Risk – least concern.
Classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Subphylum: Vertebrata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Carnivora
- Suborder: Caniformia
- Family: Phocidae
- Genus: Hydrurga
- Species: Hydrurga leptonyx