Adult Weddell seal (Leptonychotes weddellii) hauled out on ice near the Antarctic Peninsula, Southern Ocean, Polar Regions

weddell seal leptonychotes weddellii polar regions southern ocean antarctic peninsula ice haul out marine mammal habitat wildlife seal resting cold climate oceanic ecosystem ice floe seal markings nature arctic wildlife seal behavior biodiversity marine life aquatic mammals conservation animal adaptation icy environment coastal habitat polar ecosystem natural behavior antarctic wildlife echolocation sealing seal population predation ice habitats animal resting polar habitat pelagic species ocean habitat animal conservation climate marine ecology thermal regulation mammalian behavior