There are eight species of southern fur seals.
[7], Males are substantially larger than females. Antarctic fur seals are one of the better-studied Southern Ocean predators. The population trend according to the IUCN Red list is ‘decreasing’ and it has been suggested that this decline is due to the effects of global climate change on prey availability. [21] Penguins are occasionally taken by Antarctic fur seal males. [5][6] Pups are dark brown at birth, almost black in color. The breeding system of the Antarctic Fur Seal is polygynous, and dominant breeding males mate with as many as 20 females during a successful season. Seals from Crozet Islands and Heard Island are mixtures from both regions.
This can also increase the possibility of ‘exotic’ injuries to humans. [17] Females generally reach the colonies in December and give birth to a single pup several days later.
[40] New Zealand Sea Lions have been reported to kill up to half of the Antarctic Fur Seal pup production in a season at Macquarie Island. [33], Historically the species were decimated by the sealing industry for its fur and its population was driven close to extinction by the 19th century.
[34] Since sealing operations ceased in the early 20th century, the species has recovered at different rates across its former geographic range.[35]. [4] These seals find the antarctic warm so they take plunges in cold water to stay cold. Despite what its name suggests, the Antarctic fur seal is mostly distributed in Subantarctic islands[2] and its scientific name is thought to have come from the German vessel SMS Gazelle, which was the first to collect specimens of this species from Kerguelen Islands.[3]. [22] Seasonal differences in diet have been recorded across colonies, seasons and years. Fur seal, any of several eared seals of the family Otariidae valued for the quality of their fur.
[13], Antarctic fur seals have a circumpolar distribution and breed from 61° S to the Antarctic Convergence. [8], Antarctic fur seals live up to 20 years with a maximum observed for female of 24. [18] Gestation lasts between 8 and 9 months and it has been observed a high breeding synchrony across the species’ range, concentrating 90% of pup births in a 10-day window. Adult males are dark brown in colour. [41], As well as the effects of hunting and fishing, the numbers of humans visiting the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic each year for tourism and scientific expeditions has risen. Recent work indicates that there is significant overlap between foraging areas and fisheries activities, suggesting a potential for competition for prey resources may exist.
[36] A 1997 study at South Georgia indicated that several thousand Antarctic fur seals were entangled in man-made debris such as discarded fishing line, nets, packing bands and anything that can form a collar.
[11] The current best estimate for South Georgia is 4.5-6.2 million animals and 46,834 at Bouvetøya.
Adults have very long vibrissae, particularly males, up to 35 to 50 cm. [45] At birth, mean standard length is 67.4cm (58–66) and mass is 5.9kg (4.9–6.6) in males and 5.4kg (4.8–5.9) in females. [39] Levels of predation may be high enough to cause a population decline at these sites. The species is protected by the governments in whose waters it resides (Australia, South Africa, France) and by the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals in waters south of 60° S.[48] The animal is also listed in Appendix 2 of CITES.[49]. However, the vast majority of information has been collected during summer breeding months.
[32] However, the abundance of adult females is estimated to have declined by some 30% between 2003 and 2012, and by 24% since 1984 to around 550,000. Leopard Seals have been noted to take as many as a third of the Antarctic Fur Seal pups born at sites in the South Shetland Islands.
Reddit gives you the best of the internet in one place. This increase in visits has led to greater interaction between the local fauna and humans. [23][24] Studies have showed that female Antarctic fur seals can undertake wide-ranging foraging migrations during winter. These seals appear to be solitary when foraging and migrating. Females reach 1.4 m (4.6 ft) with a mean weight of 34 kg (74.9 lb). South Georgia islands, which hold approximately 95% of the global population,[30] had a total population in 1999/2000 between 4.5 and 6.2 million. In particular, the Antarctic fur seal's primary prey base, krill, could be reduced as a result of ocean acidification, or the distribution could be altered by climate change.
[10] The largest congregation occurs on South Georgia, which holds approximately 95% of the global population. IUCN Conservation status: Least Concern. Males establish breeding grounds in October to early November. Genetic studies on population structure[29] have suggests that there are two genetically distinct regions: a western region including the islands of the Scotia Arc, Bouvetøya, and Marion Islands, and an eastern region, including Kerguelen and Macquarie Islands.
The northern fur seal is a migratory inhabitant of northern seas that is a gregarious, vocal animal prized for its chestnut-colored underfur. Finally, the 19th century population bottleneck led to reduced genetic diversity, leaving it again more vulnerable to disease and stresses of climate change. Females and juveniles tend to be paler, almost grey with lighter undersides.
Colour patterns are highly variable, and scientists reported that some hybridization between Subantarctic and Antarctic fur seals has occurred.
[25] Interannual differences appear to be related to differences in local oceanographic conditions.[26][27].
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