Crabeater seals are the creepiest looking pinnipeds you’ll ever see. Like a malignant cross between an arctic fox and a potato, crabeaters have smooth white hides with yellowish eyes, needle-like teeth for eating crustaceans, and a creepy pipe-like snout that makes their faces look like they have hinged jawbones. The question is, what do crabeater seals eat?
To top it all off, these seals are named after the disgusting things they love to eat… crabs. Crabeater seals can be found throughout the Northern Hemisphere in cold waters from Canada to Iceland to New Zealand. Their scientific name is “protonota” which translates to “lobster eater” in Greek.
You might be asking yourself, “How do scientists know what these animals eat if they haven’t been able to study them in the wild?”
Well, because these little weirdos actually regurgitate chunks of undigested red crab flesh when scientists feed them cut up bits of newts and salmon! Keep reading to find out more about what crabeater seals eat and how big they get.
Crabeater Seal Diet: What Do These Cannibalistic Pinnipeds Eat?
Crabeater seals are carnivores that feed on a variety of fish species and crustaceans. They are known to eat herring, capelin, red crabs, shrimp, and krill. However, crabeater seals have also been observed eating marine mammals, including other seals and whales.
This is particularly problematic when it comes to the crabeaters’ affinity for beluga whales, which are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. Other than eating their fellow pinnipeds, scientists believe that crabeater seals may also eat fish eggs, Arctic cod eggs, and plants.
Crabeater seals are known to be cannibalistic, which is why it’s not recommended to keep them as pets. They’ve been known to kill and eat cubs, seals of other species, and even juvenile crabeater seals.
Why Are Crabeater Seals Called “Crab-Eaters?”
This is a great question. Crabeater seals have smooth white hides with yellowish eyes, needle-like teeth for eating crustaceans, and a creepy pipe-like snout that makes their faces look like they have hinged jawbones. While many people think that crabeater seals also eat crabs, this isn’t the case.
In fact, the word “crab-eater” comes from the fact that these seals have a large, flat, and wide palate. The palate is the top part of the mouth where the tongue and teeth are located. It is this flat palate that allows these seals to eat a variety of different types of crustaceans that are otherwise inedible by other seals.
Crabeater seals have a palate that is approximately three times wider than that of other seals. This allows them to consume a variety of crustaceans, including red king crabs.
What Do Crabeater Seals Eat?
As we’ve already discussed, crabeater seals are carnivorous pinnipeds, which means that they eat meat. Crabeater seals are known to gorge on herring, krill, capelin, and red crabs. When eating red king crabs, crabeater seals will typically crush them with their flat teeth before swallowing the crabs whole.
Crabeater seals have been observed eating marine mammals, including other seals and whales. This is particularly problematic when it comes to the crabeaters’ affinity for beluga whales, which are listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. It is also thought that crabeater seals may also eat fish eggs, Arctic cod eggs, and plants.
How Big Are Crabeater Seals?
Male crabeater seals are generally larger than their female counterparts. On average, they weigh between 200 to 550 pounds and are between four and seven feet long. Their average lifespan is 25 to 30 years. Crabeater seals are known to migrate thousands of miles each year in order to find new sources of food.
Their diet is so varied that they are able to survive in nearly any climate and water temperature. Crabeater seals are known as the “penguin of the seal world” because they walk everywhere on their front flippers. This is called “forewalking.” Scientists believe that these seals do this in order to conserve energy while migrating.
Where Can You See Crabeaters?
Crabeater seals are found throughout the Northern Hemisphere in cold waters from Canada to Iceland to New Zealand. While crabeater seals have been known to travel thousands of miles in their lifetimes in order to find new sources of food, they often return to the same breeding grounds every year.
You can see crabeater seals in aquariums, zoos, and wildlife sanctuaries around the world. Crabeater seals are listed as “vulnerable” in the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. They are threatened by climate change, habitat loss, and overfishing.
Final Words
While most seals are known to be very cute, crabeater seals are decidedly creepy. These animals are known to eat herring, krill, capelin, and red crabs. They have been observed eating other seals and whales, including critically endangered belugas.
Crabeater seals are also known as “crab-eaters” because they have a flat palate that allows them to consume a variety of crustaceans that are otherwise inedible by other seals. You’ve probably never heard of the crabeater seal, but after reading this article, you’re sure to remember their creepy faces and strange dining habits.
