Crabeater seals - Lobodon carcinophagus on ice floe
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Crabeater seals on an ice floe. Crabeaters
are the most timid of the commonly encountered Antarctic seals,
whereas most types of Antarctic seal will lay there pretty much
oblivious to what's going on around them, crabeaters tend to
be more alert and are less easy to approach even if on an ice
floe, they will quickly display signs of nervousness and are
inclined to slip into the water and swim away. Crabeaters often
have scars on their bodies from close encounters with either
leopard seals or killer whales.
Photo; © Paul Ward