Crabeater seal

Meet the crabeater seal, also known as the krill-eater seal, a fascinating marine mammal with a misleading name. Contrary to what you might think, these seals don’t eat crabs at all! Instead, they specialize in consuming Antarctic krill. With a circumpolar distribution, they are found all around the coast of Antarctica, primarily residing on free-floating pack ice where they rest, mate, and hunt for food.

Crabeater seals are incredibly common—in fact, they're the most abundant seal species in the world. Population estimates range from a staggering 7 million to as many as 75 million individuals.

Taxonomically, these seals are part of the Lobodontini tribe, which includes other Antarctic seals like the leopard seal, Ross seal, and Weddell seal. One of their most intriguing features is their teeth, which are specially adapted to filter krill from the water. Adult crabeater seals typically grow to about 2.3 meters (7.5 feet) in length and weigh around 200 kilograms (440 pounds). They have a slender body, a long snout, and their fur changes color throughout the year.

These seals are true Antarctic residents, spending the entire year in the pack ice zone. They give birth in the Antarctic spring and are known for their unique, serpentine movements on land or ice. Crabeater seals are social creatures, often seen in large groups when resting or swimming. Unfortunately, they are also a favorite prey for leopard seals, who are responsible for about 80% of crabeater pup deaths. Killer whales also prey on them, though less frequently.

As the name "krill-eater" suggests, over 90% of their diet consists of Antarctic krill. They also snack on cephalopods and various Antarctic fish species. The success of crabeater seals is closely tied to the abundance of krill, which is one of the most plentiful species on the planet. Young crabeater seals face a tough first year, with high mortality rates due to predation by leopard seals.

The crabeater seal’s ability to thrive in the harsh Antarctic environment is due to their specialized adaptations for feeding on krill and their unique tooth structure. Researchers continue to study these fascinating creatures to better understand their population dynamics and behaviors.