Translation 2783

•• 140 -
Weddell's Seal . (Leptonychotes weddelli Lesson, 126)
The general colour of adult Weddell's seals 35, is darkgrey.
The back is almost black, and the belly grey. Light spots of
irregular shape and small whit a stripes, tile number of which is
• greater on thc sides and belly, are scattered all over the body. In
summer the ueneral colouring fades to a rusty. grey-brown. There are
• • no differences in colour between males and females. The embryonic
coat of new-born pups is grey, with a dark stripe.alonu toe spine.
After the first moult the pupe acquire the colouring tyuical of adults.
Plic. 35. 1. 10.1CI:b
Fig. 35.
Weddell's seal.
•
This seal is fairly large and moves slowly ove r the ice, ofte n .
on its side. The zoological body length of adults exceeds 300
lying
cm, ar d the weight is about 500 kg. The length of new-born pups is
more than 120 cm, and their weight more than 26 kg.
Weddell's seals are.distributed alon e; the coasts of Antarctica'
and the sub-Antarctic islands. They occupy more southerly regions
than any other Antarctic seals. They are common in J;he South Shetland
. Islands (over 2,000) and the South Orkney Islands, but are not numerous
on South Georgia, where small breeding colonies . occur-not farther
north than Larson ILay. There are a few Weddell's seals on 1.;acquarie
Island, ■ eard Island, tile 2a1kland Islands, ailo. Ueri;uelen island, and
•occasional sightings have been recorded off 1:ew Zealand•and South
Australia. In summer they form shore rookeries not Only on the islands
but also in several parts of Antarctica (Mciairdo Sound„rincess .Elizabeth
land, etc.). Yhese seals.lead a cous al life throughout th,
year, ï)ein,; found on the ice or on shore, uut avoiu:ing distant ;:arts
of the sea, includiné :: mases o: pack—ice. 'luny LO not mn .:e lonij migrations.
SeasonzU movemel:ts of adults nve oeu, c=cived: most of .
the animals leave te bre .edin—grounds in winLer and L o to sea,
Luut in :1.1m!cor tes' .e ..urn to tue localities whole their rooheries are
situa Leu. — itn tite approach of suit—t..r and brek:-up of ti,e. ice