Mammals · Carnivora · Otariidae

Afro-Australian Fur Seal

Arctocephalus pusillus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Australian fur seal is the largest fur seal in the world, with males exceeding 300 kilos. The species has two widely separated subspecies: one in the Bass Strait, between Australia and Tasmania, and another on the coasts of South Africa and Namibia, where it is known as the Cape fur seal. Both breed in extremely dense colonies on rocky islets and dive in search of fish, squid and octopus. It is an important prey of the great white shark.

Weight

50 kg – 360 kg

Size

1.4 m – 2.3 m

Lifespan

20 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

4countries 10parks 5dive sites10same family

Fun facts

It is the largest fur seal in the world: an adult male can weigh 360 kilos, more than a lion.
The Cape Cross colony in Namibia gathers more than 200,000 animals in the breeding season, one of the largest concentrations of pinnipeds on the planet and a spectacle as impressive as it is malodorous.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Rocky coasts and islets of the Bass Strait and of southern Africa, depending on the subspecies
Sexual maturity: 3.5 years
Gestation / incubation: 12.1 months
Litter / clutch size: 1

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