(Family Otariidae) The nine species of Fur Seals all possess a thick, luxurious layer of under fur. It was this under fur (and their blubber) that made them an attractive target for hunters, who reduced some species to near extinction. It was not until seal products began to be traded on a commercial basis that population numbers were reduced substantially.
Sea Lions True Seals Fur Seals
In the 1960's, film and television companies began broadcasting seal hunts, which raised the awareness of the general public by showing the harsh reality of the slaughter and skinning of seals.
The Fur Seals are divided into two genera. There are eight species in the genus Arctocephalus, which are known as the Southern Fur Seals. The Northern Fur Seal is the only species in the second genus, Callorhinus.
All the Southern Fur Seals look quite similar. Adult males are larger than the females in all species, and the males also possess a thick mane of fur around the neck and shoulder area. The largest of all the Fur Seals are the Cape and Australian Fur Seals, which are actually classified as the same species but divided into two sub-species. The smallest of the Fur Seals is the Galapagos Fur Seal.
Australian Fur Seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus)
- CLASS: Mammalia
- ORDER: Pinnipedia
- FAMILY: Otariidae
- SUBFAMILY: Arctocephalinae
- GENUS: Arctocephalus
- SPECIES: pusillus
- SUBSPECIES: doriferus
- LENGTH: Males 2.3m - 2.7m, Females 1.2m - 1.7m
- WEIGHT: Males: up to 360kg, Females: up to 110kg
- DIET: Fish, small penguins, squid, octopus
- APPEARANCE: Large, dusty grey-brown seal. Has darker markings on the back, and is paler on its under parts. Variations in colour do occur.
This fur seal is considered to be the same species as the Cape Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus, but the species is divided into two subspecies due to the different distribution of both seals. This seal is one of the largest of all the Fur Seals.
Australian Fur Seals are found in South-eastern Australian waters, mainly around Tasmania and Victoria, and may also be found off Southern New South Wales. The major breeding colonies, of which there are approximately ten colonies, are situated in Bass Strait between Victoria and Tasmania. There is only one colony in New South Wales, which is located at Seal Rocks, North east of Sydney. Australian Fur Seal pups are born between November and February, with mating occurring approximately one week after each female gives birth.
There are no completely accurate counts of Australian Fur Seals, however it is estimated that approximately 10,000 pups are born each year and that there are probably 40,000 Australian Fur Seals in total. It is thought that the population of this species is not increasing substantially, which may be due to inadequate feeding conditions.
New Zealand Fur Seal (Arctocephalus forsteri)
- CLASS: Mammalia
- ORDER: Pinnipedia
- FAMILY: Otariidae
- SUBFAMILY: Arctocephalinae
- GENUS: Arctocephalus
- SPECIES: pusillus
- LENGTH: Males: 1.45m - 2.2m, Females: 1.25m - 1.8m
- WEIGHT: Males: up to 180kg, Females: up to 80kg
- DIET: Feed on cephalopods (Arrow squid) and fish including anchovy, lanternfish, and hoki.
- APPEARANCE: Smoky grey back and flanks, fading to a dusty brown. Under parts are paler. Variations in colour occur.
New Zealand Fur Seals breed on many islands off the west coast of New Zealand, with colonies found from Open Bay to Fiordland in the south-west. Colonies are also found on islands south of New Zealand. This species also occurs in Australia where breeding colonies are situated at Kangaroo Island, off the South Australian coast, and along the south-western coast of Australia. New Zealand Fur Seal Pups are born between December and February, with the peak being in December. The total population of New Zealand Fur Seals is estimated at about 60,000 individuals. Between 5,000 and 10,000 of these are found in Australia.
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