Seals were heavily exploited for their oil during the 19th and 20th centuries. Weddell are the archetypal Antarctic seal, and along with the adelie penguin are fixed in the public consciousness as animals of the far south. Males can weigh up to 200-250 pounds with females only weighing 120. Squid, fish and krill. Females are gray to brownish with creamy throats and chests.
Adult males are silvery-gray with a mane and longer hair.
Like all fur seals their hind flippers can be deployed facing forwards or backwards, so that while they are able to propel themselves efficiently in the sea they are also able to walk and run on land. The main population is on South Georgia but healthy numbers are flourishing on some further south islands as well. The world's largest seal. Males can attain 4 tons and 16' in length, with females weighing up to 1900 pounds and up to 10' in length. The name comes partly from the elephantine size but also from the extraordinary trunk-like proboscis of the bull, which is inflatable, and attains full splendor when the animal is in its eighth year.