Mammals diurnal

Weddell Seal

Leptonychotes weddellii

The ghost of the Antarctic ice, the Weddell Seal is a master of the deep, capable of diving over 600 meters while singing a chorus of otherworldly songs that echo through the frozen sea.

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Quick Identification

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Size

Length: 2.5–3.5 meters (8.2–11.5 ft); Weight: 400–600 kg (880–1,320 lbs)

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Colors

Dark gray to black dorsal coat with silver-white and yellowish mottling on the belly; colors often fade to brown before the annual molt.

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Key Features

Relatively small head and short muzzle compared to body size
Large, dark eyes and cat-like facial expression
Plump, spindle-shaped body with heavy blubber
V-shaped nostrils and small front flippers

When You’ll See Them

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Activity pattern diurnal

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Peak hours 10 AM - 4 PM (for hauling out on ice)

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Season September-December

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Diet Primarily piscivorous, favoring Antarctic silverfish and the massive Antarctic toothfish; they also consume squid, octopuses, and krill using a combination of suction feeding and active hunting.

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Habitat Antarctic fast ice environments, specifically near cracks, tide leads, and breathing holes close to the continental coast.

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Behavior

Weddell Seals are remarkably docile and approachable, largely because they lack natural land predators in their Antarctic habitat. They spend a significant portion of their lives beneath the fast ice—ice that is attached to the shoreline—using their specialized teeth to grind away at ice to maintain breathing holes. This allows them to stay in protected waters where killer whales and leopard seals cannot easily reach them.

Socially, they are known for their complex and haunting underwater vocalizations, which include trills, whistles, and chirps that can be heard even through the ice. On the surface, they are often seen basking in the sun or sleeping deeply. During the breeding season, females gather in colonies on the ice to give birth, while males defend underwater territories near the breathing holes to secure mating rights.

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Camera Tips

Capturing the Weddell Seal requires preparing for the most extreme conditions on Earth. For those stationed at Antarctic bases or visiting coastal sites, the best placement for a trail camera is near active 'tide cracks'—fractures in the ice caused by shifting tides. These are the natural doorways seals use to haul themselves out of the water. Position your camera approximately 2-3 feet off the ground, angled slightly downward to account for the seal's low profile when it is resting on the ice.

Battery management is the biggest challenge in sub-zero temperatures. Standard alkaline batteries will fail almost instantly; use high-capacity lithium batteries or an external power pack insulated with foam. If you are using a trigger-based setup, be aware that the high-reflectivity of the snow and ice can sometimes trick PIR sensors or cause severe overexposure. Setting your camera to a lower exposure value (EV -1.0 or -2.0) can help preserve the detail in the seal's mottled fur against the brilliant white background.

Because Weddell Seals are slow-moving on land and often sleep for hours at a time, traditional motion-triggering may result in thousands of identical frames. Consider using a 'Time Lapse' mode set to fire every 15-30 minutes during the peak daylight hours of the Antarctic summer. This will capture the fascinating process of a seal widening its breathing hole or the slow movement of a mother and pup. If you are aiming for video, ensure your camera has a fast recovery time, as the most interesting behavior—the 'worming' motion they use to move across the ice—is slow but rhythmic.

Lastly, keep lens fogging in mind. When moving your camera from a warm research hut to the freezing outdoors, allow it to acclimate inside a sealed dry bag to prevent internal condensation. Placing a few silica gel desiccant packets inside the camera housing is essential to keep the lens clear for those crisp, high-contrast shots of the seal's iconic 'smiling' face.

Similar Species

Species that look similar or are commonly confused with Weddell Seal.

Crabeater Seal

Lighter, more uniform coat color and a longer, pointed muzzle compared to the Weddell's blunt face.

Leopard Seal

Much larger, more reptilian head with a massive gape and a more slender, muscular body built for high-speed hunting.

Ross Seal

Smaller with much larger eyes and a very short muzzle; they are rarely seen on fast ice, preferring the pack ice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Weddell Seals are most frequently seen on the ice surface during the middle of the day, typically between 10 AM and 4 PM, when they haul out to rest and bask in the Antarctic sun. However, they are active hunters underwater at all hours, depending on prey availability.

You cannot 'attract' them with bait, as they are protected by the Antarctic Treaty and feeding wildlife is strictly prohibited. Instead, 'attract' them to your frame by scouting for fresh breathing holes or areas of broken ice where they naturally exit the water.

Their diet consists mainly of fish, particularly Antarctic silverfish and toothfish. They are also known to eat cephalopods like squid and various crustaceans. They have been observed blowing air into ice crevices to flush out hidden fish.

No, Weddell Seals are never found in suburban areas. They are strictly Antarctic and sub-Antarctic animals, living further south than any other mammal on Earth, primarily on the fast ice surrounding the Antarctic continent.

Look at the face and the coat. Weddell Seals have a very small, cat-like head with a short snout and a dark, mottled (spotted) coat. Crabeater Seals have a longer, more dog-like muzzle and a much lighter, often uniform tan or silver-white coat.

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