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. See full glossary

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

Lifespan

31 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

OceanIslandsCarnivore Nocturnal Colonial Ocean Islands Mammal

6countries 19parks 4dive sites10same family

Fun facts

Isla de Lobos, off Punta del Este, holds one of the largest colonies in the world: for more than two centuries it was exploited commercially and became one of the greatest sources of pelts in the South Atlantic.
El Niño events cause mass die-offs along the Peruvian coast: the warming water collapses the anchoveta and the pups starve by the thousand.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Rocky coasts, islets and sea caves of the South American Atlantic and Pacific
Sexual maturity: 3 years
Gestation / incubation: 7.8 months
Litter / clutch size: 1

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arctocephalus_australis