Leopard Seal Nabs Penguin in the Antarctic

Amos Nachoun/Barcroft Media/Landov

A young penguin swam into the "jaws of death" of a leopard seal in Port Lockroy, on the Antarctic Peninsula, in this photo by underwater photographer Amos Nachoun.

The photos were taken in 2009 while Nachoun attempted to capture a series documenting how frigid water leopard seals hunt.

Young penguins are at higher risk of predators because they are not yet aware of the dangers, according to information provided by the photographer.

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According to the NOAA, leopard seals wait near ice shelves for penguins to enter the water, and pounce before the birds realize what is happening.

Leopard seals, also known as sea leopards, are some of ocean's fiercest predators, with large, powerful jaws, according to NOAA. They eat a variety of prey, including penguins, squid and other seals.