The crabeater seal is well-adapted to its unique feeding habits. It has a broad, flat skull with a wide gape, allowing it to open its mouth wide to capture large amounts of krill. Its teeth are designed for filtering rather than chewing, with cusps that form a sieve to trap krill and allow water to escape. The crabeater seal also has a long, agile tongue and flexible upper lip, which it uses to manipulate and direct the krill towards its mouth.
Crabeater seals hunt for krill in the Antarctic waters of the Southern Ocean. They typically feed near the surface of the water, but can also dive to depths of up to 500 meters (1,640 feet) in pursuit of their prey. The seals use their sensitive whiskers and keen eyesight to locate krill swarms, and they may form large groups to cooperatively feed on these dense concentrations of prey.
Crabeater seals are opportunistic predators and may also consume other small crustaceans, fish, squid, and even other seals if krill are not readily available. However, krill makes up the vast majority of their diet.
The crabeater seal's reliance on krill for sustenance has a significant impact on the Antarctic ecosystem. It plays a crucial role in controlling krill populations and maintaining the delicate balance of the food web in this region.