Weights of some organs of crabeater seals, Lobodon carcinophaga

Crabeater seals Lobodon carcinophaga breed on the Antarctic pack ice. The body composition of seven crabeater seals of various age classes was reported by Bryden and Erickson (J Zool 179:235–247, 1976); weights of internal organs and sculps (skin with blubber attached) are reported here for four animals from East Antarctica. They died under sedation, two in late April 1993 and one each in late September and early October of 1995. Sculp weights in this study averaged 32% of total body weight, 11.8% higher than the average from the previous study. The difference most likely results from the condition of seals. Those in the previous study were likely to have been in poor condition (moulting or recently moulted). In this study, the animals were likely to have been in good condition (pre-moult or post-moult). Weights of five internal organs are reported; stomach and kidneys expressed as a percentage of total body weight were about 20% lighter in the current study and data for the intestines and liver were about 20% heavier, with little difference for heart weight. This study provides estimates of sculp weight of four crabeater seals and extends the knowledge of weights of five of their visceral organs (stomach, intestines, liver, kidney and heart).