leopard seal
A large Antarctic seal (Hydrurga leptonyx) known for its spotted coat and predatory behavior.
The leopard seal is an apex predator in the Antarctic food chain.
The katakana spelling is standard for this animal name; usually written in kana.
Kanji spelling is rare and may not be widely recognized; the katakana form is strongly preferred.
Compound of 豹 (ひょう, 'leopard') and 海豹 (あざらし, 'seal'), referring to its spotted coat. The exact derivation is uncertain, but the name is a straightforward descriptive compound.