Adult male leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) hauled out on ice in the Gullet near the Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica, Polar Regions

leopard seal hydrurga leptonyx polar regions antarctic peninsula ice wildlife marine mammal resting ocean cold expedition environment antarctica animal behavior spotted fur seal habitat natural habitat adaptation ice floe marine ecosystem predator wildlife observation freezing temperatures animal resting hunting grounds coastal ice biodiversity wildlife conservation cold climate natural scenery marine biodiversity aquatic mammals cold regions animal relaxation seal behavior marine wildlife polar climate leopards ocean habitat natural world wildlife ecology antarctic ecology conservation efforts marine research