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Australasian fur seal

A species of Bear head, Also known as New zealand fur seal, Long-nosed fur seal, Southern fur seal
Scientific name : Arctocephalus forsteri Genus : Bear head

Australasian fur seal, A species of Bear head
Also known as:
New zealand fur seal, Long-nosed fur seal, Southern fur seal
Scientific name: Arctocephalus forsteri
Genus: Bear head
Australasian fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) Photo By Damien Naidoo , used under CC-BY-SA-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

Description

Males have been reported as large as 160 kg; their average weight is about 126 kg. Males can be 2 metres long. Females are between 30–50 kg on average, and can be as long as 1.5 metres. Pups are 3.3–3.9 kg on average, and between 40 and 55 cm long. At 290 days old males are about 14.1 kg, and females are about 12.6 kg. They have external ears and hind flippers that rotate forward, which visibly distinguish them from other seals. They have a pointy nose with long pale whiskers. The fur seals are covered by two layers of fur. The coat is grey-brown on their back, and lighter on their belly. Some have white tips on longer upper hairs, which can give them a silver-like appearance. So called "Upland Seals" once found on Antipodes Islands and Macquarie Island have been claimed as a distinct subspecies with thicker furs by scientists although it is unclear whether these seals were genetically distinct.

General Info

Lifespan

15-25 years

Diet

Australasian fur seal primarily feeds on cephalopods and fish. They exhibit diving behavior to forage on prey such as squid, octopus, and various fish species found at varying ocean depths.

Appearance

Australasian fur seal is a medium-sized pinniped with a streamlined body, ranging from 1.5 to 2 m in length. It has a thick, short fur coat that is dark brown to black, lightening to grey in older males. This species displays sexual dimorphism, males being noticeably larger and heavier with thicker necks and broader heads than females. The males also sport a mane of longer guard hairs on their necks.

Behavior

Australasian fur seal are social marine mammals, displaying polygynous breeding behavior. They use vocalizations or physical aggression to establish and defend territories during the breeding season. Primarily nocturnal foragers, they feed on a diverse diet, including fish and cephalopods. Australasian fur seal are also known for their unique 'porpoising' behavior, a high-speed movement pattern to evade aquatic predators.

Population

Increasing
Australasian fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) Australasian fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) Photo By Damien Naidoo , used under CC-BY-SA-3.0 /Cropped and compressed from original

Scientific Classification

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