One of the most abundant large mammals on Earth, even though most people have never heard of it. Living along the coasts and pack ice of Antarctica, this seal has adapted brilliantly to the icy extremes of the southern continent. Despite its name, the Crabeater seal doesn’t eat crabs at all—its diet is almost entirely krill, the tiny shrimp-like creatures that swarm in Antarctic waters. It’s a sleek, powerful swimmer perfectly designed for life in the cold. Its coat changes with the seasons, often appearing light brown in summer and turning a pale, almost ghostly white in winter, giving it excellent camouflage against the ice and snow.
Instead of sharp, pointed teeth for tearing flesh, they have complex, sieve-like teeth that interlock to form a natural filter. When they take in a mouthful of water filled with krill, they can push the water out through their teeth while trapping the krill inside—like a living strainer. This unique adaptation allows them to eat with incredible efficiency, consuming massive amounts of krill each day. Scientists estimate that Crabeater seals may eat up to 80 kilograms of krill daily, making them one of the biggest consumers of krill in the world.
Another fascinating feature of the Crabeater seal is its lifestyle on the Antarctic ice. Unlike the highly social Weddell seals or the aggressive leopard seals, Crabeater seals are more solitary or found in loose groups, often seen lounging on ice floes or drifting with the pack ice. They are excellent divers, capable of reaching depths of over 200 meters (656 feet), though most of their feeding dives are much shallower. Their main predators are orcas and leopard seals, and many adult Crabeater seals carry scars from narrow escapes.
Distribution
Atlantic Ocean
Indian ocean
Pacific ocean
Antarctica
Argentina
Australia
Bouvet Island
Brazil
Chile
Falkland Islands
Heard & McDonald
New Zealand
South Africa
South Georgia
UruguayAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
