Mammals · Carnivora · Otariidae

New Zealand Fur Seal

Arctocephalus forsteri

Least Concern

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

The New Zealand fur seal, or kekeno, is the commonest eared seal in New Zealand waters. It was hunted almost to extinction by the whalers and sealers of the 18th and 19th centuries, and since full protection in 1978 it has been recovering fast, recolonising coasts from which it had disappeared more than a century ago. It is an exceptional diver: dives of more than 300 metres have been recorded. It breeds on rocky coasts and its pups play in the freshwater pools of coastal streams.

Weight

30 kg – 180 kg

Size

1.3 m – 2.5 m

Lifespan

20 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Social structure

Colony

Lives in large concentrations, often for breeding reasons.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

OceanIslandsCarnivore Colonial Ocean Islands Mammal

2countries 6parks 12dive sites10same family

Fun facts

It dives deeper and for longer than any other fur seal: there are records of dives exceeding 300 metres and fifteen minutes.
Its pups gather to play in the pools of coastal streams, sometimes more than a kilometre inland, and some of those waterfalls have become tourist attractions on the South Island.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (mammal)
Habitat & environment: Rocky coasts, islets and shelf waters of New Zealand and southern Australia
Sexual maturity: 5 years
Gestation / incubation: 7.8 months
Litter / clutch size: 1

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