What is Weddell seal?
{{speciesbox | name = Weddell seal<ref name=msw3>{{MSW3 Wozencraft | pages = | id=14001044}}</ref> | image = {{Css Image Crop|Image = Mikkelsen Harbour-2016-Trinity Island (D'Hainaut Island)–Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) 03.jpg |bSize = 310|cWidth = 275|cHeight = 110|oTop = 25|oLeft = 12|Location = center}} | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name=iucn>{{IUCN2008|assessor=Gelatt, T.|assessor2=Southwell, C.|last-assessor-amp=yes|year=2008|id=11696|title=Leptonychotes weddellii|downloaded=29 January 2009}}</ref> | genus = Leptonychotes | parent_authority = [[Theodore Nicholas Gill|Gill]], 1872 | species = weddellii | authority = ([[René-Primevère Lesson|Lesson]], 1826) | range_map= WeddellRange 1.PNG | range_map_caption = Weddell seal range {{legend |#cccccc|Water}} {{legend |#ffffff|Ice}} {{legend |#ff9999|Range}} }} [[File:Leptonychotes weddellii NOAA.jpg|thumb|Female Weddel seal, with calf.]] [[File:Weddell seal1b.jpg|thumb|A Weddell seal breathing in a hole in the ice.]] The '''Weddell seal''' (''Leptonychotes weddellii'') is a [[Earless seal|seal]] that is common in [[Antarctica]]. It is named after [[James Weddell]], who discovered it. Estimations are that there are half a million to a million of these animals left, which makes it the most common seal in Antarctica, after the [[Crabeater seal]]. During the winter, most Weddel seals do not migrate northwards. Instead, they keep open a hole in the ice, by gnawing it with their teeth. ==Notes== {{reflist}} [[Category:Pinnipeds]] [[Category:Animals of Antarctica]] {{biology-stub}}