ScienceAugust 29, 2026
crabeater
KRAYB-ee-tur
Definition
A species of Antarctic seal that feeds primarily on krill despite its misleading name.
Etymology
Derived from the English words 'crab' and 'eater', it is a misnomer because these seals feed almost exclusively on krill rather than crabs.
In the news
The article lists crabeater seals among the various species that humpback whales have been observed protecting from killer whale attacks.
Humpback whales have been seen helping seals, sea lions and even sunfish escape orca attacks — intervening in hunts involving animals from entirely different species for reasons researchers still cannot fully explain
Read the full article ↗ScienceBlog.com