One of the 7 fur seals on WAnimals
Mammals · Carnivora · Otariidae
South American Fur Seal
Arctocephalus australis
Least Concern
The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk.
The South American fur seal is an eared seal of the coasts of the Southern Cone, from Peru to Brazil around Cape Horn. It is smaller than the South American sea lion and is told apart by its pointed muzzle and its dense two-layered coat. It breeds on rocky coasts with caves and boulders that give it shade. It dives at night in pursuit of fish and squid. It was subjected to mass sealing in Uruguay and the Falklands well into the 20th century.
Weight
30 kg – 200 kg
Size
1.4 m – 2 m
Life expectancy
31 years
