Brown fur seal
The brown fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus), is a type of fur seal. It is also called the Cape fur seal, South African fur seal and Australian fur seal.[2]
| Brown fur seal | |
|---|---|
| |
| Hauling-out on the Hippolyte Rocks off the east coast of Tasmania | |
| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification 
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| Unrecognized taxon (fix): | Arctocephalinae |
| Genus: | Arctocephalus |
| Species: | A. pusillus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Arctocephalus pusillus (Schreber, 1775)
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| Subspecies | |
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| Distribution of the brown fur seal, dark blue: breeding colonies; light blue: nonbreeding individuals | |
Description
Adult male brown fur seals are dark gray to brown, with a darker mane of short, coarse hairs and a light belly. Adult females are light brown to gray, with a light throat and darker back and belly. The front flippers of the fur seal are dark brown to black. Pups are born black and molt to gray with a pale throat within 3–5 months.
Ecology
Predators
The brown fur seal's main predator is the great white shark. Other predators include, killer whales and southern elephant seals. Land predators include black-backed jackals and brown hyenas on the Skeleton Coast in Namibia.[3]
In popular culture
Cape fur seals are shown as "The Scoundrel" in the 2021 nature program Penguin Town.
Brown Fur Seal Media
Side view of male Brown Fur Seal skull from Cape Cross, Namibia
Arctocephalus pusillus 4 - Cape fur seal
A fur seal colony at Duiker Island, South Africa
Fur seal underwater at Agulhas Bank
Cape Cross colony, Namibia
Brown fur seal colony at Friar Islands, Tasmania
Brown fur seals in Cape Cross
Arctocephalus pusillus 3 - Cape fur seal
Brown fur seal Gaston in Prague Zoo
Fur seals used for tourist attraction in Namibia
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References
- ↑ Hofmeyr, G. & Gales, N. (2008). "Arctocephalus pusillus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2008. Retrieved 30 January 2009.
- ↑ "Fur Seals | National Geographic". Animals. 2010-04-11. Retrieved 2020-08-25.
- ↑ Penry, Gwenith S.; Baartman, Ashwynn C.; Bester, Marthán N. (2013). "Vagrant elephant seal predation on Cape fur seal pups, Plettenberg Bay, South Africa".
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