Leptonychotes weddellii (Lesson 1826)

[Otaria] weddellii Lesson 1826, Bull. Sci. Nat. Geol., 7: 437.

Type Locality: "sur les côtes des Orcades australes, situées sour 60 degrés 37 minutes de lat" [South Orkney Isl (Br. Antarct. Trust Terr.)].

Vernacular Names: Weddell Seal.

Synonyms: Leptonychotes leopardina (C. E. H. Smith 1839); Leptonychotes leopardinus Wagner 1946; Leptonychotes leptonyx (Moseley 1879) .

Distribution: Coastal fast ice areas of Antarctic continent and adjacent islands. Vagrant populations: Argentina, Australia, Chile, Falkland Isls, Macquarie Isl, New Zealand, Uruguay.

Conservation: IUCN – Lower Risk (lc).

Discussion: Reviewed by Stirling (1971) and Kooyman (1981).