Crabeater Seal

Common name: crabeater seal

Scientific name: Lobodon carcinophagus

Crabeater seals live in the pack ice around Antarctica. Their name is a misnomer since they feed mostly on Antarctic krill. Crabeater seals are a pale creamy colour with gray mottling on their flanks. Males and females are very similar in size, growing up to 2.6 m in length.

This species is a rare vagrant to the South African coast. Bayworld has hosted three crabeater seals in the rehabilitation centre.