How did crabeater seals get their name?
Their name originates from the German word, ‘Krebs’, which covers other crustacea as well as crabs. Since krill is a very abundant food source, there is a large population of these seals. Crabeater seals have specially adapted teeth with extra projections to gulp in seawater and strain out the krill.
What is unusual about the crab eating seal?
Crabeater Seals have a unique adaptation for feeding – they have evolved a sieve-like tooth structure that filter krill, somewhat like the baleens on Baleen Whales. They suck in water containing krill, close their jaws, and then force the water back out between their specialized teeth, trapping the krill inside.
Where are Crabeater seal found?
Antarctic continent
Crabeater seals dwell along the circumpolar pack ice at the edge of the Antarctic continent and adjacent islands. They are remarkably agile on land and are sometimes found far inland—juveniles will accidentally travel towards the interior of the Antarctic continent on occasion.
Is a crabeater seals a carnivores?
Diet is strictly carnivorous, but pinnipeds eat a variety of prey ranging in size from krill, which is filtered from the water by the complex cheek teeth, to, in the case of the leopard seal (Hydrurga leptonyx), penguins and even other pinnipeds.
Why are crabeater seals teeth?
The highly specialized, lobed teeth of crabeater seals allow them to swim through swarms of krill and filter out the tiny crustaceans from seawater like a sieve. With these specialized teeth, crabeater seals can eat large quantities of krill every day without exerting much energy.
Are crabeater seals dangerous?
Are Crabeater seals dangerous? Crabeater Seals are a more docile species when compared with the more aggressive Leopard seal. They tend to shy away from boats. If you have a chance to see these wonderful animals in the wild, always remember these animals are wild animals and should always be respected.
How did the crabeater seal get its name?
The scientific names of “ Lobodon ” and “ carcinophaga ” mean “lobe-toothed” and “crab eater” respectively. Despite the name, Crabeater Seals don’t eat Crabs. Crabeater Seals bodies have been found remarkably far inland, over 100km from the shore.
Where can you find a crabeater seal carcass?
Curiously, crabeater seals have been known to wander further inland than any other pinniped. Carcasses have been found over 100 km from the water and over 1000 m above sea level, where they can be mummified in the dry, cold air and conserved for centuries.
How long does it take a crabeater seal to feed?
The Crabeaters do most of their feeding at night. They can dive as deep as 430 meters although feeding dives are usually around 30 metres. The hunt can last up to 16 hours, involving hundreds of dives. Are Crabeater Seals social? Crabeater Seals are probably the most sociable of the Antarctic seal families.
Where are krill trapped in a crabeater seal?
Together with the tight fit of the upper and lower jaw, a bony protuberance near the back of the mouth completes a near-perfect sieve within which krill are trapped.
The scientific names of “ Lobodon ” and “ carcinophaga ” mean “lobe-toothed” and “crab eater” respectively. Despite the name, Crabeater Seals don’t eat Crabs. Crabeater Seals bodies have been found remarkably far inland, over 100km from the shore.
What kind of food does the crabeater seal eat?
Other prey items include cephalopods and diverse Antarctic fish species. Although the crabeater seal is sympatric with the other Antarctic seal species (Weddell, Ross and leopard seals), the specialization on krill minimizes interspecific food competition.
Who are the Predators of crabeater seals in Antarctica?
There are two prime Antarctic predators of crabeater seals. However plentiful the crabeater seal’s population may be, it still frequently falls prey to two of Antarctica’s top predators. The leopard seal, one of Antarctica’s most voracious eaters, is responsible for an estimated 80% of all crabeater seal pup deaths.
How long do crabeater seals live in the wild?
Crabeater Seals are known to live up to 40 years in the wild. How many Crabeater Seals are there today? Estimates for the world’s Crabeater Seals population vary wildly – from 7,000,000 to 75,000,000. Do Crabeater Seals have any natural predators?