Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus

(Schreber, 1775)

Vernacular names
English : South African fur seal
French : Otarie à fourrure d’Afrique du Sud

Classification
Class : Mammalia
Order : Carnivora
Family : Otariidae
Notes : 1 subspecies known.

Identification
Adult males can reach 230 cm in length for a maximum weight of 350 kg. Females are much smaller. Snout is broad and wide. Males have big shoulders and a well developed mane. Fur coloration is generally brown, lighter on breast.

Range and habitat
This subspecies occurs in coastal southern Africa, from Angola to Algoa bay (South Africa). The other subspecies is found in southern Australia. Lives in rocky coasts for breeding, feeds in coastal waters and continental shelf.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Appendix II
Status : This subspecies is by far the commonest of the two in the wild. Despite former hunting and pollution, the species’ numbers are increasing.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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