Mammals
Subantarctic Fur Seal
Arctocephalus tropicalis · also called Amsterdam fur seal
Marked by a striking orange-yellow face and chest against otherwise dark fur, a subantarctic fur seal has rebuilt its population from the edge of extinction after centuries of commercial sealing, now breeding across scattered islands further north than many of its Southern Ocean relatives.
Overview
The subantarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis, is a recovering pinniped native to ocean and coastal habitat across scattered sub-Antarctic islands in the Southern Ocean. Its distinctive orange-yellow facial colouring, more northerly breeding range, and remarkable population recovery from historical sealing make it one of the more visually striking and conservation-successful fur seal species found anywhere in the world.
A recovery built one generation at a time
Once pushed to the brink by commercial sealing, the subantarctic fur seal has staged one of the more encouraging pinniped recoveries in the Southern Ocean, its growing population a reminder of how quickly a species can rebound once the original threat is removed.
Status
Least Concern, with populations continuing to increase across most of its sub-Antarctic island range following recovery from historical sealing.
Subantarctic Fur Seal: common questions
What makes the subantarctic fur seal easy to identify?
This species has a striking orange-yellow face, chest, and throat contrasting sharply with the dark brown or grey fur covering the rest of its body, making it one of the more distinctive fur seal species by colouring alone.
Where does the subantarctic fur seal breed compared with other fur seals?
This species breeds on islands considerably further north than many other fur seal species found in the region, occupying a somewhat warmer band of the Southern Ocean than its more southerly relatives.
Did the subantarctic fur seal nearly go extinct?
Yes, this species was hunted to near-extinction by commercial sealing in past centuries, but populations have recovered substantially since hunting ceased and protective measures were introduced across its range.
How do males compete for mates in this species?
This species has males that establish and fiercely defend breeding territories on land, competing directly with rival males for access to groups of females during the breeding season.