What Is the Diet of Weddell Seals?

The Weddell seal, or leptonychotes wedellii, is a species of seal native to Antarctica. They can grow to be 10 feet in length and weigh up to 1,000 pounds. Weddell seals gather in large groups on the ice. They are hunted by predators such as killer whales and leopard seals. Weddell seals are carnivorous and feed on a variety of fish, shrimp and krill.

  1. Feeding Behavior

    • Weddell seals usually feed at night. They dive to depths of up to 2,000 feet in search of prey. Weddell seals are able to collapse their lungs and lower their rates of breathing while beneath the water’s surface. This allows them to hold their breath for more than 60 minutes while hunting for food.

    Hunting

    • Weddell seals are known to use their mouths to blow air into cracks in ice in order to remove prey. Weddell seals do not chew their prey after they have caught it. Instead, they swallow their prey in big pieces beneath the water’s surface.

    Fish

    • The majority of the Weddell seal’s diet consists of fish such as Atlantic cod. Because they can dive to such great depths, Weddell seals often feed on a variety of bottom-dwelling fish known as benthic fish.

    Cephalopods

    • Weddell seals feed on some species of cephalopods found in their native waters such as octopuses and squid.

    Crustaceans

    • Though their diet is mostly made up of larger prey, Weddell seals do occasionally eat small crustaceans such as shrimp, prawns and krill.

    Penguins

    • Though not nearly as common as their other food sources, Weddell seals have been known to hunt and eat penguins.