Antarctic Wildlife - Antarctic Fur Seal

Scientific name: Arctocephalus gazella

Physical description and related species

Antarctic Fur Seal at Davis Station February 2012
Photograph by David (Horse) Barringhaus

Fur seals are the smallest seals and closely related to dogs and sea lions, able to walk on all fours. The common name of fur seal includes several species: Antarctic fur seals, subantarctic fur seals and New Zealand fur seals.

They have teeth, whiskers and thick fur, similar to the coat of a dog. They don’t have layers of fat like other seals but rely on their thick fur coat to keep them warm.

Adult males can weigh up to 200 kg, adult females weigh about 40 kg, and pups weigh between 3–7 kg at birth. Occasionally these seals are pale blonde.

Distribution and abundance

At Macquarie Island three species of fur seal occur: Antarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus gazella) and subantarctic fur seals (Arctocephalus tropicalis) which both breed there and New Zealand fur seals (Arctocephalus fosteri), which occur in large numbers but do not breed.

 At Heard Island the population is increasing. In 1992 there were about 250 pups born at Heard Island, and by March an influx of adult males and juveniles increased the numbers to over 21 000 fur seals. See also Weddell Seals , Elephant Seal and Leopard Seal  Blogs

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Antarctic Fur Seal at Davis Station February 2012
Photograph by David (Horse) Barringhaus

Antarctic Fur Seal at Davis Station February 2012
Photograph by David (Horse) Barringhaus