The Leopard Seal (Hydrurga leptonyx), also referred to as the sea leopard, is a species of seal from the seas and ice flows of Antarctica and the second largest species of seal in the Antarctic, after the southern elephant seal. It is second only to the killer whale (its only natural predator) as the top predator in Antarctica. It is the only species in the genus Hydrurga. Its closest relatives are the Ross seal, the crabeater seal and the Weddell seal, which together are known as the tribe of Lobodontini seals.
A full grown adult leopard seal can reach a maximum body length of 11.5 feet and can weigh up to 1,320 pounds. The teeth of a leopard seal are unique as the front teeth are carnassial while the molars are locked together for catching and filtering krill. Leopard seals show sexual dimorphism, with the females being larger than the males.
Leopard seals usually prey on krill, squid, fish, sea birds, and other seal species. However, penguins are usually taken as prey. Leopard seals lack the necessary teeth to chew flesh. Instead, they shake their prey violently from side to side in order to rip apart smaller pieces for easier consumption, similar to a crocodile using the death roll to rip apart flesh.