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How do Weddell seals survive beneath fast ice in winter?
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Antarctica
Paradise Bay, Antarctica.
Weddell seals survive the harsh Antarctic winter by remaining beneath the fast ice. To ensure they have access to the surface for air, these seals keep breathing holes open by gnawing at the ice with their canine and incisor teeth.1
As nonmigratory animals, they are well-adapted to the extreme conditions of the Antarctic environment, utilizing their skills as accomplished divers to navigate and feed in the marine waters beneath the ice cover.1