Template:POTD protected

From Encyclopedia Westarctica
Revision as of 23:14, 9 March 2019 by Westarctica (talk | contribs)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Crabeater Pléneau Bay.jpg

The crabeater seal is a true seal with a circumpolar distribution around the coast of Antarctica.

They are medium- to large-sized (over 2 m in length), relatively slender and pale-colored, found primarily on the free-floating pack ice that extends seasonally out from the Antarctic coast, which they use as a platform for resting, mating, social aggregation and accessing their prey. They are by far the most abundant seal species in the world. While population estimates are uncertain, there are at least 7 million and possibly as many as 75 million individuals. This success of this species is due to its specialized predation on the abundant Antarctic krill of the Southern Ocean, for which it has uniquely adapted, sieve-like tooth structure.

The crabeater seal is the official seal of Westarctica, and a favored animal of Grand Duke Travis.


Photographer: Liam Quinn

(More Featured Images)