Vol. 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. Nowak, Ronald M. FAO, 1993. San Diego. The mouth of a crabeater seal is uniquely adapted to feed on Antarctic krill by acting like a sieve. Crabeater seals (Lobodon carcinophaga) have specially adapted teeth. There are no major threats facing the Crabeater seal at present. It is believed by some scientists that there are more of them than all the other seal species combined. During this time, the female spends the entire time on the ice with the pup. Inside the mouth of every child is a terrifying double row of teeth. As Stanley explains, "the same thing that sustains 100,000 of these [crabeater seals] also sustains the 100-foot-long blue whales." Crabeater seals molt, to become brown or gray. A male usually joins the female just before birth takes place, and protects her and her newborn from other males and from predators. Crabeater seals live throughout the Antarctic region. A ridge of bone fills the gap between the teeth and the back of the jaw, stopping prey from escaping from the mouth while feeding. Young are almost fully grown at two years old, although they do not reach maturity until three to six years old. However, initial studies suggest that the number of Crabeater seals may decline as temperatures increase and pack ice is reduced, which is an important habitat for breeding, resting and avoiding predators. Add to new collection; CANCEL. 126: 365-370. 2003. Antarctic seals tend to have longer, more pointed foreflippers than northern phocids. They are capable of diving to depths of up to 250m, but usually feed within the upper 20 m of the water column. They are found mainly on the pack ice and in the near freezing water off the coasts of Antarctica, but some travel as far New Zealand, Tasmania, Australia, South America, and South Africa. The colour of their fur ranges from dark brown to blonde, becoming lighter in summer. © Amusing Planet, 2020. Parker, S. Most adult crabeater seals have large scars as a result of unsuccessful attacks from leopard seals when they were younger. Walker's Marine Mammals of the World. We mainly see them in … Crabeater seals have specially adapted teeth with extra projections to gulp in seawater and strain out the krill. {{posts[0].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}, {{posts[1].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}, {{posts[2].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}, {{posts[3].commentsNum}} {{messages_comments}}, Black Weddings: Marrying in The Time of Cholera, Kitsault: The Ghost Town Where Lights Are Still On But No One’s Home, Circular Pedestrian Bridge in Lujiazui, China, Aqueduct of Segovia: The Mortar-Less Miracle, How Clowns Trademark Their Face By Painting On Eggs, The Mystery of Lady Dai’s Preserved Mummy, The Spectacle of Death at The Paris Morgue. Crabeater seals spend their entire lives in the pack-ice zone surrounding Antarctica, resting, breeding and moulting on the pack-ice, and feeding in the surrounding water. Mortality is high in the first year, possibly reaching 80%. Crabeater seals are a "true" or "earless" seal and perfectly adapted to living in Antarctica, almost exclusively amidst the pack ice. Their teeth have many little points, which filter krill from the water. The … Krill are a common type of zooplankton. The crabeater seal is protected by the Antarctic Treaty and the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals and any future commercial harvest would have to be regulated through these international agreements. The seals have special lobed teeth that help them to sieve the krill out of the seawater. Crabeater seal teeth. They breed on the ice in spring, from late September to early November. Up to 500 in a herd have been seen swimming and diving together. Browse our extensive collection of zoological career infobooks including animal training, animal rescue and rehabilitation and zoo careers. At SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, we extend our commitment to the environment beyond our company by supporting a variety of conservation groups and programs. (ed.). To help them separate krill from seawater, the seals posses complex serrated teeth with multiple cusps. Surprised? During the time a family group is together, the adult male defends the female and pup from other adult males. 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. Crabeater seals are monogamous, which means that one male mates only with one female. In fact, it resembles baleen closely at the microscopic level. It probably eats other invertebrates as well. Their name originates from the German word, ‘Krebs', which covers other crustacea as well as crabs. It is assumed that they migrate during the Antarctic winter in search of food but their patterns of movement are unknown. New York: Random House, 2002. Larws, R.M., Baird, A. and M.M Bryden. However, development of a large krill fishery could effect its population and the entire Antarctic ecosystem if harvesting on a large scale becomes established. In fact, it resembles baleen closely at the microscopic level. They are the most abundant seal species in the Southern Ocean, and the most numerous of all the world’s larger animals apart from humans. Their teeth have many little points, which filter krill from the water. An adult crabeater seal grow over 2 meters in length and can weigh around 200 kg, while large seals can be over 300 kg in weight. These seals are extremely agile on land and sometimes are found far inland, juveniles sometimes accidentally traveling towards the interior of Antarctica. They can move large distances through the pack-ice, due to both active movement and passive movement on drifting ice floes. Grizmek's Encyclopedia of Mammals. Crabeater Teeth. Much of this mortality is attributed to Leopard Seal predation, and up to 78% of Crabeaters that survive through their first year have injuries and scars from Leopard Seal attacks. Marine Mammals of the World. A 3-4 week clerkship for veterinary students wanting to augment their knowledge and experience in non-domestic animal medicine. The high abundance of the crabeater seals is a testament to their extreme success in killing Antarctic krill. Seals are marine mammals found the world over. He is actually yawning but they do have a decent set of teeth. Don't be. Crabeater Seal on The IUCN Red List site -, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crabeater_seal, http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/12246/0. Reeves, R. R., Stewart, B.S., Clapman, P.J., and J.A. Crabeater seals feed almost entirely on krill, small shrimp-like creatures, near the Antarctic peninsula but are known to have a more opportunistic and varied diet in other regions. Rome. Handbook of Marine Mammals: Volume 2: Seals. The Crabeater seal is an important krill predator, they may also affect leopard seals populations, as items of prey - consume about 80% of all crabeater pups. The teeth of Crabeater seals are designed for the efficient eating of krill. In spring, juvenile and mature seals will segregate, the juveniles forming large groups on land while the mature ones stay on the pack ice during the breeding season. Disease, primarily canine distemper virus, is a threat to Antarctic seal populations, and if outbreaks occur, it can cause mass die-offs. Seals. The seals feed by swimming through schools of krill with their mouth open. The scientific name for the crabeater seal, Lobodon carcinophaga, translates to "lobed-tooth crab-eater," and one look at its mouth tells you why. Berkeley and Los Angeles. Their teeth have many little points, which filter krill from the water. 1990. The people of SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment are truly and deeply driven to inspire on behalf of, to celebrate and connect with, and to care for the natural world we all share. Crabeater seals have a circumpolar Antarctic distribution, spending the entire year in the pack ice zone as it advances and retreats seasonally. Currently, an international group of scientists is collaborating to provide a good estimate. The Sierra Club Handbook of Seals and Sirenians. The color fades by the end of summer and they turn white. When threatened, a Crabeater seal will snort, hiss, show its teeth, and roll over many times, which is probably a tactic evolved to evade Leopard seals and Killer whales. The male plays no part in bringing up the pup, and the group disbands once the pup is weaned. To help them separate krill from seawater, the seals posses complex serrated teeth with multiple cusps. Crabeater seals feed almost entirely on krill, small shrimp-like creatures, near the Antarctic peninsula but are known to have a more opportunistic and varied diet in other regions. Leopard seals are a major predator of crabeater seals, particularly of young pups. It was the early Antarctic sealers and whalers who misnamed this species, which might more accurately be named the "krilleater seal”. Many crabeater seals often bear scars from leopard seal and, to a lesser extent, from killer whale attacks. Much larger groups, however, sometimes with as many as about 1,000 individuals, have been seen hauling out on ice floes, particularly during the annual molt, which takes place in January and February. SeaWorld Education Department Publication. Find a variety of free classroom activities that will keep your students engaged and excited to learn about animals. Despite their name, these seals don’t eat crabs, they eat krill (Euphausia superba). Scientists consider crabeater seals to be the most abundant of any pinniped species. A slender animal measuring about 2–2.5 m (6.6–8.2 feet) long and up to about 225 kg (500 pounds) in weight, the crabeater seal feeds on krill (planktonic crustaceans and larvae), rather than on crabs as its name implies. Occasionally crabeater seals are found along the southern fringes of South America, Australia, New Zealand, and Africa, but such sightings or strandings are rare. Reeves, R.R., Stewart, B.S. So are we! Leopard seals are a major predator of crabeater seals, particularly of young pups. The interlocking teeth act as a sieve, allowing them to filter krill from the water. The structure of their teeth is reflected in their scientific name Lobodon which means lobed teeth. 2. During the day they rest on ice floes. Crabeater seals have slender bodies and long snouts. Ridgway, S.H. The Crabeater seals are carnivores and their diet is 89% Antarctic krill. 90% of their diet comprise of the Antarctic krill, the single species with the greatest biomass on the planet.