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Why do crabeater seals eat krill rather than crabs?
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seal
Crabeater seal (Lobodon carcinophagus).
The name "crabeater seal" is a misnomer, as these seals do not actually eat crabs.1
Crabeater seals feed almost exclusively on krill, which are small, planktonic crustaceans. They are physically adapted for this diet through specialized, elaborately cusped teeth that interlock to form a highly efficient sieve. This anatomical structure allows the seal to perform filter feeding, straining the krill directly from the seawater as they swim.12