Summary
Abstract The diet of male and female leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) was investigated in Prydz Bay, Eastern Antarctica. A total of 70 scats, 1 regurgitate and 3 stomach contents were collected, during the austral summer, between November 1999 and March 2002. Eight prey species were identified, including birds, mammals, fish and invertebrates. Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) were the main prey item and crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophagus), benthic and pelagic fish, amphipods and krill were found to supplement the diet. Cephalopods did not occur in the diet. Crabeater seals were still being captured well after weaning, and were found in the diet of both male and female leopard seals.
Authors:Hall-Aspland S.A. Rogers T.L.
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: 2004
Category 1: Peer-reviewed literature
Program area: Antarctic Marine Living Resources
Hall-Aspland S.A., Rogers T.L.
(2004)
Summer diet of leapard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) in Prydz Bay, Eastern Antarctica,
Polar Biology
27(12).
729-734;