Antarctic fur seals
Antarctic fur seals, also known as Kerguelen fur seals, are large, eared marine mammals characterized by their pudgy appearance and silvery gray coats, with lighter creme-colored chests in females and young seals. Found predominantly in the southern Atlantic Ocean around islands like South Georgia and South Shetland, as well as near Kerguelen Island in the Indian Ocean, these seals are adept swimmers and can reach speeds of up to 12 miles per hour on land. Mating season occurs from October to April, during which males establish harems and engage in competitive behavior to attract females.
Antarctic fur seals primarily feed on Antarctic krill, though some males may prey on penguins. The gestation period lasts about 14 months, culminating in the birth of a single pup, which the mother nurses for approximately 4.5 months. Historically, these seals faced near extinction due to hunting in the early 20th century, but their populations rebounded without significant human intervention. However, they currently face new threats from climate change, which impacts their food supply and affects breeding success, making them vulnerable to predation and reducing pup survival rates.
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Antarctic fur seals
Antarctic fur seals are also known as Kerguelen fur seals because they have been found near the Kerguelen Island.
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Pinnipedia
Family: Otaridae
Genus: Arctocephalus
Species: Gazella
Antarctic fur seals are large, pudgy looking seals with silvery gray coats. The chests of the females and young are a lighter creme color. Antarctic fur seals have tail fins and two foreflippers that help them swim in water and balance on land. Antarctic fur seals are eared seals. That means they have rolled ears sticking out on both sides of their heads. Male Antarctic fur seals grow to be about six feet (1 3/4 meters) long and weigh about 300 pounds (135 kilograms). The females are a little smaller. They grow to be only about four feet long (1 1/4 meters) and weigh only about 75 pounds (33 kilograms). Like all other eared seals, Antarctic fur seals have a layer of fatty tissue, called blubber, located under their skin. This fat is used to keep the animals warm in colder waters and acts as a storage place for food.
Antarctic fur seals are surprisingly fast. They can run at speeds up to 12 miles per hour (20 kilometers per hour). They can move faster than humans over slippery rocks in their natural habitats. They communicate with each other through barks and growls.
Antarctic fur seals live in the waters around the islands of South Georgia, South Shetland, and South Orkney in the southern parts of the Atlantic Ocean. They are also found near the Kerguellen Island in the south of the Indian Ocean. Antarctic fur seals come up onto the rocky beaches of these islands to mate.
Antarctic fur seals eat mostly Antarctic krill. Sometimes male Antarctic fur seals kill penguins, but it is not known if they do this for food or as part of a game. Some young Antarctic fur seals also eat fish. While feeding at sea, Antarctic fur seals often travel in small groups or alone. They are often found where the ocean current brings fish and other sea life up to the top of the water.
Mating season for Antarctic fur seals is a very busy, noisy, and crowded time. Hundreds of seals gather together on rocky beaches for the mating season. Often the males will fight with one another for certain mates. Successful breeding bulls, or males, have harems, or groups of female mates. Mating season for Antarctic fur seals lasts from October through April. The gestation period (duration of pregnancy) is about 14 months. The female then gives birth to one pup, young seal. Most of the pups are born in early December. The female nurses her young for about 4 1/2 months. During this time she makes trips out to sea to find food for herself and then returns to feed her young. When she comes back from one of her trips to sea, she finds her pup among the hundreds of others by yelling out her special pup-attraction call. The pup will recognize its mother's call, and respond.
Antarctic fur seals try to protect themselves from predators such as human hunters, large sharks, killer whales, leopard seals, and polar bears by finding secure breeding grounds on land.
Male Antarctic fur seals have a life span of about 13 years. Females have a life span of about 23 years.
The Antarctic fur seal was hunted to near extinction in the early 20th century. Their numbers soon grew larger once more, mostly without human help. In the early 21st century, the Antarctic Fur Seal is once again threatened. Increasing global temperatures and warming oceans are harmful to the Antarctic krill, the main food for the Antarctic fur seal. This lack of food increases the amount of time mother seals must spend in search of food. Females are now having fewer litters of pups. Pups that are born are left alone for longer periods and find themselves preyed by other types of seals, most notably the Leopard seal.
Bibliography
“An Isolated Population of Antarctic Fur Seals Could Save the Species, but They’re Disappearing.” NOAA Fisheries, 12 May 2022, www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/isolated-population-antarctic-fur-seals-could-save-species-theyre-disappearing. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.
“Antarctic Fur Seal.” Animalia, animalia.bio/antarctic-fur-seal. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.
Sexton, Chrissy. “Antarctic Fur Seals Face an Emerging Threat of Food Shortages.” Earth.com, 15 Oct. 2023, www.earth.com/news/antarctic-fur-seals-face-an-emerging-threat-of-food-shortages. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.