Wildlife photographer Justin Hofman has shared what are believed to be the first underwater photographs of a Ross seal after posting the images on Instagram.
In his caption, Hofman said Ross seals live deep within Antarctic pack ice and are rarely seen, leaving much of their life history poorly understood. He noted that across 15 seasons working in Antarctica, he has encountered the species only twice, with this sighting marking his second.
Hofman explained that he became aware several years ago that underwater images of Ross seals likely did not exist, though he did not initially view capturing them as a specific goal due to how infrequently the animals are observed and how far south they typically reside.
Photos captured during record southern Antarctic voyage
The images were taken during a recent expedition aboard the National Geographic Resolution with Lindblad Expeditions, which set a new furthest-south record for a voyage to Antarctica. Hofman also said that Ayla Townsend recorded some of the only known underwater video of a Ross seal during the same trip.
Ross seals, scientifically known as Ommatophoca rossii, are true seals found exclusively in Antarctic waters. They are the smallest and least abundant of Antarctica’s seal species and are the only member of their genus. The species is typically found in low densities within heavy pack ice, contributing to limited opportunities for observation and study.
The seals are identifiable by their large eyes, short snouts, and distinctive vocalizations, which include complex underwater calls. Their diet primarily consists of squid and fish. Population estimates suggest there may be approximately 130,000 individuals, though figures vary due to the challenges of surveying the species in its remote habitat.
The newly shared photographs add to the limited visual documentation of Ross seals, particularly beneath the surface, where sightings are extremely uncommon.
Back in November, scientists discovered a new fish and named it after Goku’s Dragon Ball Z Super Saiyan transformation.
