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Today on animal fact files we're talking about Weddell seals. Make a splash, be sure to subscribe, and thank you to LimeC for today's request. The name Weddell seal may be misleading because it’s one letter off from Weddell Sea, the place of origin of the Weddell seal’s discovery, but Weddell seals are not strictly confined to the Weddell sea; they can actually be found all around the coasts and islands of Antarctica which means, yes, we’re finally talking about an animal from that crazy continent we never get to talk about.

Weddell seals are the most southern living mammals. While it’s true Antarctic waters and ice floes can be home to other mammals such as blue whales and elephant seals, Weddell seals are more permanent residences to this icy landscape. Unlike many other true seal species who enjoy pack ice, or the large chunks of ice that drift in the ocean, Weddell seals prefer to stay atop fast ice. No, that doesn’t mean it melts fast (Though in the current stay of things anything’s possible).

Fast ice is ice that is connected to land, and most of the fast ice on which Weddell seals live is connected to the continent of Antarctica itself. The fast ice is a relatively safe place for Weddell seals to live because it generally acts as a large shelf under which air breathing predators like orcas and leopard seals are unable to survive. Now, maybe you’re thinking, Weddell seals need to breathe, too! And that’s completely true, but these seals come equipped with special teeth designed to chew away holes in the ice through which they can breathe!

When Weddell seals do travel to the open sea and pack ice they become vulnerable, though it’s usually worth the reward of food in the form of fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Weddell seals can dive 2,000 feet (600m) below the ocean’s surface and may be able to hold their breath for up to an hour. They generally take food from the bottom of the ocean or from open water areas. They may also blow bubbles in ice cracks to scare out easy to eat fish. That awkward moment when you’re afraid of bubbles.

Weddell seals generally stay close to the place they were born throughout their lives, though some get a bit of wanderlust and may travel more than 250 miles (400 kilometers) from their birthplace. They’re ready to begin breeding at around three years of age, though competitions in males may mean they have to wait longer before they’re able to pass on their genes. Breeding season begins in November and it’ll take a month or two for the female’s fertilized egg to implant and begin to develop. This occurs so that her baby will be born in September, or the spring, after a nine to ten month gestation period. Remember, if you live in the northern hemisphere, the seasons are reversed! The pups are born atop the ice, and mother Weddell seals only provide milk for a short period of less than two months, so that they can prepare for the next breeding season. Young Weddell seals are tough little cookies, though. Also they’re freaking adorable.

The breeding season in Weddell seal territory can be a noisy time, and these seals can get so loud they can even hear each other through ice. Here’s an example of a Weddell seal call: (noise). Young Weddell seals become full grown at about 10 feet (3 meters) in length and more than 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms) in weight; and, completely opposite to the walruses we’ve previously discussed, Weddell seal females are larger than males! That’s a lot of weight to lazy about on the ice, and these seals were once hunted to provide food for dog sled teams stationed in Antarctica research facilities. Nowadays, that doesn’t happen, and Weddell seals are protected, though other pressures, such as loss of food, could threaten their survival. When they do live a full live, Weddell seals can reach almost thirty years in age!

For more facts on Weddell seals, check out the links in the description. Give a thumbs up if you learned something new today, and thank you for watching Animal Fact Files.