Fur Seals

IUCN

Not evaluated

Scientific Name：Arctocephalinae (subfamily)

Basic Information

Scientific classification

name：Fur Seals
Scientific Name：Arctocephalinae (subfamily)
Outline：Large Fish
Family：Otariidae Arctocephalinae

Vital signs

length：F 1.2–1.8 m; M 1.6–2.5 m (broad variation)
Weight：F 25–80 kg; M 100–300+ kg
lifetime：c. 20–30 years

Feature

Ear pinnae; foreflipper propulsion; quadrupedal on land; strong sexual dimorphism; dense underfur.

Distribution and Habitat

Southern Hemisphere islands/shelf edges and upwellings; N. Fur Seal across the North Pacific.

Appearance

Guard hairs plus underfur; large foreflippers; robust male neck/shoulders; dark natal pelage in pups.

Details

Arctocephalinae (fur‑seal subfamily) within Otariidae includes the Southern HemisphereArctocephalus and the Northern Fur Seal Callorhinus ursinus. Otariids bear external ear pinnae, swim with foreflipper propulsion and can walk on land. Fur seals have dense underfur that fuelled historic exploitation.

Ecology & Behaviour

Feeds on pelagic fishes/cephalopods near shelf breaks, upwellings and seamounts. Breeds at island rookeries with strongsexual dimorphism and polygyny; females alternate foraging trips with pup nursing.

Identification

Males much larger; powerful shoulders and large foreflippers; coat of guard hairs plus dense underfur. On land, quadrupedal gait.

Distribution & Taxa

Arctocephalus: widespread in the Southern Hemisphere (S America–sub‑Antarctic–Australia/NZ–S Africa).
Callorhinus ursinus: Northern Fur Seal across the North Pacific (Bering Sea–Aleutians–Kurils–N Japan).

Threats & Conservation

Legacy of the fur trade for some stocks.
Bycatch/entanglement (longlines, gillnets, ghost gear).
Food‑web shifts (fisheries pressure, El Niño/marine heatwaves).
Pollutants/disease (POPs, algal toxins, pathogens).
Disturbance (tourism near rookeries, vessel noise/strikes).

Priorities: spatio‑temporal protection of key rookeries/upwelling hotspots, anti‑entanglement gear, debris reduction, health monitoring, and climate‑responsive management.

FAQ

Q1. Fur seals vs. sea lions vs. true seals? Otariids (fur seals/sea lions) have ear pinnae, foreflipper propulsion and can walk on land; true seals lack pinnae and swim with hind‑flippers.

Q2. Why “fur” seals? Dense underfur historically targeted by the fur trade.

Q3. Conservation status? This is a subfamily overview—Not evaluated as a whole; statuses vary by species/stock (LC to VU/EN).

Q4. Human interaction? Breeding sites are disturbance‑sensitive; maintain distances/speed limits and reduce entanglement risks.