Puzzle 60 · Polar and Subpolar Worlds · Page 91 in print

Weddell Seal

Weddell seals live around Antarctica’s coasts, resting on sea ice attached to the shore; in winter they rasp breathing holes open with their teeth as fresh ice forms over the water.

Jump to a word
A Weddell seal's whiskered face seen close up.

A Weddell seal's whiskered face seen close up.

Species reference for Weddell Seal. The photograph does not necessarily show the population or place named in the puzzle.

(c) Erasmo Macaya Horta, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original record
Image changes

Resized and converted to JPEG for display; no subject alteration.

A Weddell seal rests on snow.

A Weddell seal rests on snow.

Species reference for Weddell Seal. The photograph does not necessarily show the population or place named in the puzzle.

(c) Kim, Hyun-tae, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY 4.0 · Original record
Image changes

Resized and converted to JPEG for display; no subject alteration.

The words

  1. Antarctic

    Weddell seals are found throughout the Antarctic.

    Animal Diversity Web (opens a new tab)

  2. Dive

    Weddell seals can make long, deep dives while hunting beneath Antarctic ice.

    antarctica.gov.au (opens a new tab)

  3. Fast Ice

    Sea ice fixed to the shore.

    Weddell seals stay around the fast ice.

    antarctica.gov.au (opens a new tab)

  4. Ice Cracks

    Seals breathe through cracks and holes in the ice.

    antarctica.gov.au (opens a new tab)

  5. Ice Hole

    Seals stay close to their access hole.

    antarctica.gov.au (opens a new tab)

  6. Leopard Seals

    Life under the ice keeps it safe from leopard seals.

    antarctica.gov.au (opens a new tab)

  7. McMurdo

    Weddell seal calls were recorded in McMurdo Sound.

    Sci.News (opens a new tab)

  8. Octopus

    Weddell seals eat octopus.

    antarctica.gov.au (opens a new tab)

  9. Phocid

    Weddell seals are true seals in the family Phocidae.

    Sci.News (opens a new tab)

  10. Prawns

    Weddell seals eat prawns.

    antarctica.gov.au (opens a new tab)

  11. Toothfish

    Weddell seals attack Antarctic toothfish up to 54 kg.

    Animal Diversity Web (opens a new tab)

  12. Trilling

    Weddell seal calls include trills.

    Sci.News (opens a new tab)

  13. Vestfold Hills

    A long-term Weddell seal study in the Vestfold Hills.

    antarctica.gov.au (opens a new tab)

  14. Weddell

    Weddell seals live around the Antarctic coast.

    antarctica.gov.au (opens a new tab)

  15. Worn Teeth

    Keeping breathing holes open wears the teeth down.

    antarctica.gov.au (opens a new tab)

Sources

  1. Weddell Seal (source capture)Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
  2. weddellwww.antarctica.gov.au
  3. Weddell Seal (source capture)Sci.News (science news site)

How we choose sources and photographs