Adult female leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) hauled out on ice at Brown Bluff near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

leopard seal hydrurga leptonyx antarctic peninsula brown bluff seal resting polar regions wildlife marine mammal cold climate animal behavior antarctic habitat seal characteristics natural environment antarctic wildlife ice landscape marine ecosystem predator wildlife conservation marine biology cold weather ice floe animal resting coastal areas species adaptation ecology home range hunting grounds blubber seal physiology pristine environment icebergs adaptation antarctic fauna seal population biodiversity seal markings habitat protection icebergs melting antarctic ecosystem seasonal changes wildlife observation ice habitat natural behavior