PORT PHILLIP BAY


Subantarctic Fur-seal 

Arctocephalus tropicalis

View scientific description and taxonomy

Scientific Details

See below for information.

Taxonomy

Phylum:
Chordata
Subphylum:
Vertebrata
Class:
Mammalia
Order:
Carnivora
Family:
Otariidae
Genus:
Arctocephalus
Species:
tropicalis

General Description

Males have dark grey to brown fur across upperparts with pale orange-cream underside and lower face. A crest of longer white tipped hairs is found on the top of the head. Females have similar fur colouration to the males however do not have a white tipped crest. Both sexes have long white whiskers. Pups have black and orange fur and black whiskers. Up to 1.8 m long.

Biology

Subantarctic Fur Seals are only occasionally observed in Victorian waters and are potentially stranded individuals from islands in the South Indian Ocean. Breeding groups form in September and pups are born between November and February.

Humans interactions include:
Previously hunted for their fur. All colonies are now protected.

Habitat

Coastal and continental shelf waters, preferring rocky or boulder beaches.

Open water

Distribution guide

Southern Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans. Central Victorian coast and potentially in or near Port Phillip.

Species Group

Mammals Seals

Depth

Shore (0-1 m)
Shallow (1-30 m)
Deep ( > 30 m)

Water Column

Surface Midwater Above surface

Max Size

1.8 m

Diet

Carnivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Recorded in Australia

Conservation Status

  • DSE Advisory List : Not listed
  • EPBC Act 1999 : Vulnerable
  • IUCN Red List : Least Concern
  • CITES : Trade restrictions (Appendix II)

Author

article author Fitzgerald, E.

Dr. Erich Fitzgerald is a Senior Curator of palaeontology at Museum Victoria.

Author

article author Jefferies, R.

Dr. Ryan Jefferies is a volunteer online editor at Museum Victoria.

citation

Cite this page as:
Fitzgerald, E. & Jefferies, R., 2011, Subantarctic Fur-seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis, in Taxonomic Toolkit for marine life of Port Phillip Bay, Museum Victoria, accessed 29 Mar 2024, http://136.154.202.208:8098/species/5721

Text: creative commons cc by licence