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[[File:Thwaites Glacier.jpg|300px|left]]
[[File:Crabeater Pléneau Bay.jpg|250px|left]]
The '''[[Thwaites Glacier]]''', including the '''Thwaites Ice Tongue''', is an unusually broad and fast [[Antarctic]] [[glacier]] flowing into [[Pine Island Bay]], part of the [[Amundsen Sea]], east of [[Mount Murphy]], on the [[Walgreen Coast]] of [[Westarctica]]. Its surface speeds exceed 2 km/yr near its grounding line, and its fastest flowing grounded ice is centered between 50 and 100 km east of [[Mount Murphy]].
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.


It was named after Fredrik T. Thwaites, a glacial geologist, geomorphologist and professor emeritus at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. The Thwaites Glacier drains into Westarctica’s Amundsen Sea and is closely watched for its potential to raise sea levels. Along with the [[Pine Island Glacier]], the Thwaites Ice Tongue has been described as part of the "weak underbelly" of the [[West Antarctic Ice Sheet]], due to its apparent vulnerability to significant retreat. This hypothesis is based on both theoretical studies of the stability of marine ice sheets and recent observations of large changes on both of these glaciers. In recent years, the flow of both of these glaciers have accelerated, their surfaces lowered, and the grounding lines retreated.
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.


'''([[Thwaites Glacier|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.

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