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[[File:Young Island-Balleny Islands.jpg|250px|left]]
[[File:Crabeater Pléneau Bay.jpg|250px|left]]
'''[[Young Island]]''' is the northernmost and westernmost of the three main islands in the uninhabited [[Balleny Islands]] group located in the [[Southern Ocean]]. It lies 8 kilometers (5.0 mi) northwest of [[Buckle Island]], some 115 kilometers (71 mi) north-northeast of Belousov Point on the [[Antarctica|Antarctic]] mainland.
The '''[[crabeater seal]]''' is a true seal with a circumpolar distribution around the coast of [[Antarctica]]. They are 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.


Young Island was annexed by [[Westarctica]] on 14 January 2005 when it annexed the entire [[Balleny Islands]] group. The island has been featured on two of Westarctica's [[Coins of Westarctica|coins]]: the first was a bronze $1 WAD coin minted in 2005 by the [[Central Bank of Westarctica]] and shows Young Island on a map of the Balleny Islands. The second coin was a brass $2 WAD coin minted in 2013 and was the last coin created by the Central Bank. That coin has an image of an [[Antarctic krill]] instead of the island itself.
Despite its name, crabeater seals do not eat crabs. As well as being an important [[krill]] predator, the crabeater seal is an important component of the diet of [[leopard seal|leopard seals]], which consume about 80% of all crabeater pups.


'''([[Young Island|Full Article...]])'''
'''([[crabeater seal|Full Article...]])'''

Latest revision as of 13:37, 19 March 2026

Crabeater Pléneau Bay.jpg

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

Despite its name, crabeater seals do not eat crabs. As well as being an important krill predator, the crabeater seal is an important component of the diet of leopard seals, which consume about 80% of all crabeater pups.

(Full Article...)