Ross seal
ommatophoca rossii latin

At close range, the Ross seal can be easily identified by its large eyes, which are up to 7 cm in diameter.

Ross seals mature sexually at approximately three years of age, and are thought to live around 20 years in the wild.

The area also supports five species of seals, including Ross Seals.

For example, Ross seals and southern elephant seals mainly feed on squid.

The area is an important habitat for the Ross Seal (Ommatophoca rossii).

The Ross seal shares a recent common ancestor with the other Antarctic seals, which are together known as the lobodontine seals.

Ross seal (Ommatophoca rossii)

The Ross seal feeds primarily on squid and fish, primarily Antarctic silverfish, in the pelagic zone.

The Ross seal is able to produce a variety of complex twittering and siren-like sounds that are performed on ice and underwater, where they carry for long distances.

Its closest relatives are the Ross seal, crabeater seal and the Weddell seal, which together are known as the lobodontine seals.

The Ross seal (Ommatophoca rossii) is a true seal (family Phocidae) with a range confined entirely to the pack ice of Antarctica.

Ross seals are presumed to be preyed upon by killer whales (Orcinus orca) and leopard seals, large predators that share their Antarctic habitat, though there are no documented observations of predation.

Although Weddell seals, crabeater seals and leopard seals are ubiquitous in Antarctic waters, the Ross seal is an uncommon and relatively unknown animal, considered to be the least common pack ice seal.

Animals known to routinely feed on glacial squid include the Antarctic petrel, light-mantled sooty albatross, Ross seal, southern elephant seal, Weddell seal, Patagonian toothfish, wandering albatross, grey-headed albatross, and the emperor penguin.

Ross Seal (Ommatophoca rossii)