Why are they called crabeater seals?
Table of Contents
Why are they called crabeater seals?
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 do crabeater seals look like?
The crabeater seal is a slender, streamlined seal with silvery gray to whitish fur and a long, slightly upturned snout. Younger crabeater seals have small specks and webs of brown or dark gray over much of their dorsal side. Pups are grayish brown with very light scattered spots.
How long do crabeater seals live?
After mating the male leaves and goes to find another receptive female. Females and males achieve sexual maturity at 2–6 years; the actual breeding age may be linked to food abundance. Most adult crabeater seals live 20–25 years, though they have been known to live as long as 40 years.
How do crabeater seals survive in Antarctica?
Crabeater seals are uniquely adapted amongst seals in that their teeth are adapted to form a sieve in a similar manner to the baleen plates of the great whales. They take a mouthful of seawater and krill and expel the water through gaps in their teeth while the parts that overlap prevent the krill from escaping.
Why are there so many crabeater seals?
While no reliable historical population estimates have been done, population models suggest crabeater seal populations may have increased at rates up to 9% a year in the 20th century, due to the removal of large baleen whales (especially the blue whale) during the period of industrial whaling and the subsequent …
What are crabeater seals scientific name?
Lobodon carcinophagusCrabeater seal / Scientific name
How deep can crabeater seals dive?
Recent research has revealed that crabeater seals can dive to 430 m and stay submerged for 11 minutes, although most feeding dives were to 20–30 m; and shorter.
Do fur seals eat crab?
Antarctic fur seals, leopard seals, Weddell seals, Ross seals, southern elephant seals… The many seal species of Antarctica all have names that are in some way explained by their appearance or primary region of distribution. All except crabeater seals, which do not, as their moniker suggests, eat crabs at all.
How tall is a crabeater seal?
7.5 ft
Adult seals (over five years old) grow to an average length of 2.3 m (7.5 ft) and an average weight of around 200 kg (440 lb).
How far can a crabeater seal dive?
430 m
Recent research has revealed that crabeater seals can dive to 430 m and stay submerged for 11 minutes, although most feeding dives were to 20–30 m; and shorter.
Do crabeater seals eat Adelie penguins?
Crabeater seals have specially adapted teeth with extra projections, so that when they gulp in seawater they can strain out the krill. Diet: Leopard seals eat almost anything, including penguins, fish, squid, crustaceans and other seals.
Do elephant seals eat Leopard seals?
The only natural predator of leopard seals is the killer whale. An observation of a male elephant seal having killed a leopard seal at Heard Island has been reported, however, this is likely to be an uncommon occurrence.
Who eats leopard seals?
the killer whale
The only natural predator of leopard seals is the killer whale.
Do elephant seals eat leopard seals?
Is a crabeater seal nocturnal?
Crabeater seals may be found in large aggregations of up to 1,000 animals, but are usually solitary or in small groups (Siniff 1979). They dive primarily at night and are reported to average 143 daily dives in late February (Nordoy et al. 1995).
Can a seal be a pet?
But such human contact does more harm than good. Like our cherished Assateague ponies, seals are large wild animals and can be extremely dangerous. They will bite – and serious infections can be transmitted to you or your pet. Seals are mammals, as are we.
