Species Hydrurga leptonyx (Blainville, 1820)

Museums

Regional Maps

• Phoca leptonyx Blainville, H.M.D. de 1820. Sur quelques crânes de phoques. Journal de Physique, de Chimie et d'Histoire Naturelle et des Arts 91: 286-300 [298].

  Type data:

   Syntype(s) MNHP A3578 ♂ juv. skin & skull (destroyed 1914), Falkland Ils and South Georgia.

  Compiled from secondary source:

   Scheffer, V.B. 1958. Seals, Sea Lions and Walruses. A review of the Pinnipedia. Stanford : Stanford University Press x 179 pp. 32 pls.
• Phoca homei Lesson, R.P. 1828. Phoque. pp. 400-426 in Bory de Saint-Vincent, J.B.G.M (ed.). Dictionnaire Classique d'Histoire Naturelle. Paris : Rey et Gravier Vol. 13. [Date published 31/Jan/1828] [17 Vols. 1822–1831] [417] [nom. nov. for Phoca leptonyx Blainville, 1820].

  Compiled from secondary source:

   Allen, J.A. 1905. The Mammalia of southern Patagonia. Report of the Princeton University Expedition to Patagonia, 1896–1899 Zool. 3: 1-210 pls i-xxix.

 

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Scheffer, V.B. 1958. Seals, Sea Lions and Walruses. A review of the Pinnipedia. Stanford : Stanford University Press x 179 pp. 32 pls [120]

 

Distribution

States

New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia

Extra Distribution Information

Heard Is., stranding records from SW WA, SA, NSW, Heron Is., QLD and Lord Howe Is.

IBRA and IMCRA regions

IMCRA

Tasmania Province (10), Central Western Shelf Province (29), Southwest Shelf Transition (30), Southwest Shelf Province (31), Spencer Gulf Shelf Province (33), Western Bass Strait Shelf Transition (34), Bass Strait Shelf Province (35), Tasmanian Shelf Province (36), Southeast Shelf Transition (37), Central Eastern Shelf Province (38), Central Eastern Shelf Transition (39)

Other Regions

Australian Antarctic Territory, Heard & McDonald Islands (Aust. Terr.)

Ecological Descriptors

Continental shelf, continental slope, gregarious, migratory, oceanic, pelagic, piscivore, predator.

Extra Ecological Information

Diet consists of penguins and other sea birds, other seals, cephalopods, krill and carrion from seal and whale carcasses.

 

General References

Kemper, C., Gibbs, P., Obendorf, D., Marvanek, S. & Lenghaus, C. 1994. A review of heavy metal and organochlorine levels in marine mammals in Australia. Science and the Total Environment 154: 129-139

King, J.E. 1983. Seals of the World. 2nd Edition. St Lucia : Univ. Queensland Press 240 pp.

King, J.E. 1995. Leopard Seal Hydrurga leptonyx. 688 in Strahan, R. (ed.). The Mammals of Australia: The National Photographic Index of Australian Wildlife. Sydney : Reed New Holland 756 pp.

Kooyman, G.L. 1981. Leopard seal Hydrurga leptonyx Blainville, 1820. pp. 261-274 in Ridgway, S.H. & Harrison, R.J. (eds). Handbook of Marine Mammals. Volume 2. Seals. London : Academic Press

Prendergast, R., Svalesen, K. & Beasley, K. 1993. A review of leopard seal biology with notes on a stranded animal. Thylacinus, Journal of the Australian Society of Zookeepers 18(3): 2-7

Rogers, T. & Bryden, M.M. 1995. Predation of adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) by leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) in Prydz Bay, Antarctica. Canadian Journal of Zoology 1995: 1001-1004

Rogers, T.L. & Bryden, M.M. 1997. Density and haul-out behaviour of leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) in Prydz Bay, Antarctica. Marine Mammal Science 13: 293-302

Rogers, T.L., Cato, D.H. & Bryden, M.M. 1996. Behavioural significance of underwater vocalizations of captive leopard seals, Hydrurga leptonyx. Marine Mammal Science 12: 414-427

Rounsevell, D. 1988. Periodic irruptions of itinerant leopard seals within the Australasian sector of the Southern Ocean, 1976–1986. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania 122: 189-191

Rounsevell, D. & Pemberton, D. 1994. The status and seasonal occurrence of leopard seals, Hydrurga leptonyx, in Tasmanian waters. Australian Mammalogy 17: 97-102

Slip, D.J., Green, K., Burton, H.R., Mitchell, P.J. & Adams, M. 1994. Allozyme variation in the leopard seal, Hydrurga leptonyx. Australian Mammalogy 17: 1-5

Williams, R. & Bryden, M.M. 1993. Observations of blood values, heart rate and respiratory rate of leopard seals (Hydrurga leptonyx) (Carnivora: Phocidae). Australian Journal of Zoology 41: 433-439

 

Common Name References

ABRS 2001. Census of Australian Vertebrates. Australian Biological Resources Study (Leopard Seal)