Crabeater Seal [Lobodon carcinophaga]
Description
The Crabeater Seal is a true seal and the most abundant pinniped species in the world, native to the coast of Antarctica. Despite its name, its diet consists almost exclusively of Antarctic krill, not crabs. It has a slender body and a distinctive narrow, elongated snout. Their molar teeth are uniquely shaped to allow them to sieve krill from the water. Crabeater Seals are highly social and often seen in large groups. They are excellent swimmers and divers but spend a considerable amount of time on ice for resting and breeding.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Mammals
Mammalia
|
| Order |
Carnivorans
Carnivora
|
| Family |
Earless Seals
Phocidae
|
| Genus |
Crabeater Seals
Lobodon
|