Antarctic fur seal facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Antarctic fur seal |
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| Male on King George Island | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Arctocephalus
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| Species: |
gazella
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| Antarctic fur seal range | |
The Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) is a type of seal that belongs to the Arctocephalus group. Even though its name has "Antarctic" in it, these seals mostly live around the Subantarctic islands, not directly on the continent of Antarctica.
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What do Antarctic Fur Seals Look Like?
Antarctic fur seals have different colors depending on their age and gender. Adult males are usually dark brown. Females and younger seals tend to be lighter, often appearing grey with paler undersides. When they are born, young seals are dark brown, almost black.
Males are much bigger than females. A male can grow up to 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) long and weigh around 133 kilograms (about 293 pounds). Females are smaller, growing up to 1.4 meters (about 4.6 feet) long and weighing about 34 kilograms (about 75 pounds). When they are born, pups are about 67 centimeters long. Male pups weigh around 5.9 kilograms, and female pups weigh about 5.4 kilograms.
Male Antarctic fur seals can live for up to 20 years. Females can live a bit longer, up to 24 years.
Where do Antarctic Fur Seals Live?
Antarctic fur seals are thought to be the most common type of fur seal in the world. The largest group of them lives on South Georgia. Scientists estimate there are between 4.5 and 6.2 million Antarctic fur seals there. Another large group of about 46,834 lives near Bouvetøya.
These seals have breeding colonies in many places. You can find them on:
- South Georgia
- South Sandwich Islands
- South Orkney Islands
- South Shetland Islands
- Bouvetøya (in the Southern Atlantic Ocean)
- Marion Island
- Crozet Islands
- Kerguelen Island
- Heard Island (in the Southern Indian Ocean)
- Macquarie Island (in the Southern Pacific Ocean)
During the winter, Antarctic fur seals travel to other areas. Their range can include Antarctica, the Falkland Islands, and southern parts of Argentina and Chile. They can even reach as far north as Mar del Plata and Gough Island.
What do Antarctic Fur Seals Eat?
In the Atlantic Ocean region, Antarctic fur seals mostly eat Antarctic krill. Krill are tiny, shrimp-like creatures. In the Indian Ocean, their diet changes, and they mainly eat fish and squid. Sometimes, larger male Antarctic fur seals have been known to eat penguins.
Images for kids
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Antarctic fur seal pups on Salisbury Plain, South Georgia
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Antarctic fur seal swimming near Clarence Island
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Antarctic fur seals and king penguins at Salisbury Plain, South Georgia
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See also
In Spanish: Lobo marino antártico para niños
