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Australian Fur Seal
Australian Fur Seal
Common Name: Australian
Fur Seal
Scientific Name: Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus
Description
The Australian Fur Seal,
Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus is the largest of all the
fur seals, weighing around 200 - 300kg. It has a broad head,
pointed snout and long backward sweeping facial vibrissae
(whiskers). The body is robust and covered in thick brown
layered hair except on the front and back flippers. The males
are larger than the females and when mature carry a dark mane
of coarse hair. They have a set of carnivore-like teeth similar
to those of a large dog or bear. Like all members of the Family
Otariidae (Fur seals and sea lions) they
can raise their body onto their front flippers to move around
on land.
Distribution, Habitat,
and Status
The Australian Fur seal
has a relatively restricted distribution around the islands
of Bass Strait, parts of Tasmania and southern Victoria. They
can be seen hauling out (coming ashore) on islands off South
Australia and areas of southern New South Wales such as Montague
Island with the occasional animal appearing as far north as
the mid north coast of New South Wales. Their preferred habitat
especially for breeding is rocky islands, which include boulder
or pebble beaches and gradually sloping rocky ledges.
As it is closely related to the South African Fur
Seal, its populations worldwide are reasonable secure
although it is occasionally commercially hunted in South Africa.
In Australia it is fully protected although its numbers are
probably still only half those of the historic pre sealing
days. It continues to be vulnerable to disturbance at its
breeding sites and suffers some loses as a result of conflict
with commercial fishing operations.
Food and Feeding
These seals feed on a variety
of bony fish species plus squid and octopus. They are voracious
and skilful hunters in the water and are not adverse to taking
advantage of situations where fish are corralled by nets and
fish farms.
Breeding
Australian Fur Seals come
ashore each year and form breeding colonies. The adult males
come ashore first and establish territories. Females congregate
within these areas and are defended by the resident male often
with considerable aggression towards the females and other
males. Females spend most of the gestation period at sea,
coming ashore just before the birth of a single pup between
October and December.
Females generally mate again 6 - 10 days later. The pup population
suffers a high mortality rate in those first two months of
life especially when the mothers are away at sea feeding.
Pups are weaned at four to six months old but may still remain
with the mother for a further six months or more.
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