South American fur seal
The South American fur seal, a member of the eared seal family (Otariidae), is primarily found along the coasts of South America and the Falkland Islands, with a smaller population in the Galapagos Islands. These robust mammals are characterized by their goldish-gray fur, small, rolled ears, and a stout body, with males averaging 6.5 feet in length and weighing around 440 pounds, while females are smaller at about 5 feet and 110 pounds. As nocturnal carnivores, South American fur seals primarily feed on small fish and crustaceans, including anchovies and squid, often hunting alone or in small groups.
Breeding occurs between October and December, during which males establish harems and compete for mates. Females give birth to a single pup after a gestation period of 8-12 months and nurse them for up to a year. These seals spend about half the year in the ocean and the other half on rocky beaches for breeding. While they face threats from natural predators and illegal hunting, they are not currently classified as a threatened species, with an estimated population between 200,000 and 400,000 individuals. Their lifespan ranges from 12 to 30 years, and they rely on secure breeding grounds to protect themselves and their young.
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South American fur seal
Although most of the South American fur seals are found around the coastal waters of South America and near the Falkland Islands, there is also a small population that lives near the Galapagos Islands.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Family: Otariidae
Genus: Arctocephalus
Species: Australis
South American fur seals are chubby looking mammals with coats of goldish gray fur. They have two flippers and a tail fin. These help them swim in water and balance on land. South American fur seals are eared seals. That means they have small, rolled ears that stick out on both sides of their heads. Male South American fur seals grow to be about 6 1/2 feet long (two meters) and weigh about 440 pounds (200 kilograms). The females grow to be only about five feet (1 1/2 meters) long and weigh about 110 pounds (50 kilograms). South American fur seals, like all eared seals, have a layer of fatty tissue, called blubber, located right under their skin. This fat is used to keep the animals warm in colder waters. It also acts as a storage place for food.
There are between 200,000 and 400,000 South American fur seals living in the coastal waters around South America from Brazil to Peru. A small population of South American fur seals mate each year on the Falkland Islands. South American fur seals spend about half of the year in the ocean waters and the other half on and near rocky beaches. Little is known about the lifestyle of South American fur seals when they are at sea.
South American fur seals are carnivores, or meat-eating animals. They are nocturnal hunters. South American fur seals eat many different kinds of small fish and crustaceans. They enjoy anchovies, shrimp, krill, lobster, and squid. They often travel in small groups or alone when they are feeding. South American fur seals are often found where the ocean current brings fish and other sea life up to the top of the water.
Though they find their food in the sea, South American fur seals have to come on land to breed. Because the eared seals are social breeders, the breeding grounds are very lively places during the breeding months. The males often fight with each other for mates. Successful breeding bulls, or males, develop harems, or groups of female mates. Mating season for South American fur seals takes place between October and December. They have a gestation period (duration of pregnancy) of about eight months to one year. The female then gives birth to one pup, or young seal. About one week after the pup is born the female mates again. The female nurses the pup for six months to a year. She travels out into the ocean to get food for herself and then comes back to feed her pup. When she comes back from one of her trips to sea, she finds her pup among the hundreds of others by yelling out her special pup-attraction call. The pup will recognize its mother's call and respond. Nursing always stops before the female gives birth to the next pup. Females can mate around three years old, but males cannot mate until around seven years.
South American fur seals are sometimes illegally killed for their fur. They try to protect themselves from predators such as human hunters, large sharks, killer whales, and leopard seals by finding secure breeding grounds on land.
South American fur seals have a life span of between 12 and 30 years. They are not a threatened species.
Bibliography
DelGreco, Amelia. “ADW: Arctocephalus Australis: Information.” Animal Diversity Web, 2013, animaldiversity.org/accounts/Arctocephalus‗australis. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Thiessen, Mirko. “South American Fur Seal - Facts, Diet, Habitat, & Pictures on Animalia.bio.” Animalia, 2024, animalia.bio/south-american-fur-seal. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.