How many crabeater seals are there?
15 million
Crabeater seals have a circumpolar distribution with an estimated population of about 15 million. They are the most abundant seal species in the Southern Ocean, and the most numerous of all the world’s larger animals apart from humans.
What is the population of seals in Antarctica?
World Population: 15 million is the current estimate, however, estimates range from between 10 and 20 million. Distribution: Most frequently located on large blocks of drifting pack ice around the Antarctic coast. One of the most southerly living species in the world.
Do crabeater seals live in groups?
Crabeater Seals are probably the most sociable of the Antarctic seal families. When younger, they’ll gather together in groups that can number up to 1,000 hauled out together. As they grow older they become more prone to hunting alone or in much smaller groups of 3 or 4 individuals.
Do killer whales eat crabeater seals?
There are two prime Antarctic predators of crabeater seals Their other predators are orcas, or killer whales, which are also known to eat both crabeater seal pups and adults.
Why do Crabeater seals have high mortality rates?
Mortality is high in the first year, possibly reaching 80%. Much of this mortality is attributed to Leopard Seal predation, and up to 78% of Crabeaters that survive through their first year have injuries and scars from Leopard Seal attacks.
How do Crabeater seals stay warm?
Most seals have a thick layer of blubber that keeps them warm. But Antarctic fur seals have dense, waterproof fur that helps them to stay warm both on land and at sea. While underwater, the shape of their fur even creates a layer of air that provides extra warmth and means they can dry out faster once back on land.
Do Crabeater seals live alone?
Crabeater seals spend most of their time alone or in a small group. Much larger groups, however, sometimes with as many as about 1,000 individuals, have been seen hauling out on ice floes, particularly during the annual molt, which takes place in January and February.
How do crabeater seals stay warm?
How do crabeater seals survive in Antarctica?
Crabeater seals are uniquely adapted amongst seals in that their teeth are adapted to form a sieve in a similar manner to the baleen plates of the great whales. They take a mouthful of seawater and krill and expel the water through gaps in their teeth while the parts that overlap prevent the krill from escaping.
Do Crabeater seals have blubber?
This layer of blubber can be almost 5 cm thick in Weddell seals, representing 40 to 50% of their body mass in winter. Crabeater seals feed on krill that they dive for.
How big is the population of the crabeater seal?
Estimates of circumpolar abundance of crabeater seals have ranged from 2 to 75 million individuals, although a population estimate in the range of 5–10 million is perhaps more reasonable.
Where do the crabeater seals live in Antarctica?
Crabeater seals spend their entire lives in the pack-ice zone surrounding Antarctica, resting, breeding and moulting on the pack-ice, and feeding in the surrounding water. Crabeater seals have a circumpolar distribution with an estimated population of about 15 million.
Who are the Predators of the crabeater seal?
Their other predators are orcas, or killer whales, which are also known to eat both crabeater seal pups and adults. To deter predators, crabeater seals gather on ice floes and in open water in groups of up to 1,000 individuals.
When do crabeater seals get their new fur?
Crabeater seals moult in January and February, their new fur being dark grey on top and silver-grey underneath, the whole coat becoming lighter as the months pass. Most crabeater seals have obvious scars, both from predator attacks and as a result of fighting during the breeding season.