Question

what are the identifying features of the Weddell seal? how do female weddel seal differ from the males? are there any similar -looking species with which people might confuse your species?

Answer 1

Weddell seals are long heavy bodied phocids with a long and thick chest and abdomen. Their heads are small and rounded while the neck is short. The eyes are large and forward-facing while their short muzzle has small number of inconspicuous short vibrissae. These features give a feline appearance to face. Their fore flippers are short and narrow present in the forward half of body. The Weddell seals are dark gray with silver-gray highlights while the rest is pale gray to off white in the freshly molted pelage state. After molting, the dorsal colors fade to dull brownish gray. Pups have a woolly silver-gray coat that has a dark swath in midline at the back.

They are around 1200 pounds heavy and around 10 feet long. They have a loud voice and can be heart from top of ice. They are lethargic and so not migrate far.

The female seals are longer than the males (3.3 m vs 2.9 m). Females are also heavier than the males, although this difference cannot be spotted in the field. The weight of female will fluctuate as weight loss is seen during lactation. Males have a thicker neck, broader head and muzzle as compared to female Weddell seals.

The Weddell seals can be confused with Ross and crabeater seals, all of which are phocids. The leopard and elephant seals have lesser similarity with Weddell seals. Ross seals differ from Weddell seals by having longer and wider head and neck. Their muzzles are smaller and they have a thick throat. They have dark streaks on neck, throat and sides. Their fore flippers are also longer. The crabeater seals differs from Weddell seals by having longer head and muzzle and are paler dorsally and on sides. They are longer with pointed fore flippers. All these seals also respond differently to danger.