Other Names

• Australo-african Fur-seal

General Description

Males have dark grey-brown fur (grey when wet) with a distinct mane of thick hair on the neck. Females have a lighter, white-yellow throat. Young seal pups are black-brown with grey underparts. Ear visible behind each eye. Up to 2.3 m long.

Biology

Australian Fur Seals change their diet from season to season, eating squid, octopus and fish. Killer Whales and White Sharks are probably their main predators. They were killed in Victorian waters for their skins until partially protected in 1891 and fully protected in the 1980s.

Humans interactions include:
Vulnerable to oil spills.

Habitat

Coastal and continental shelf waters, up to 180 km offshore.

Open water

Distribution guide

South-eastern Australia.

Species Group

Mammals › Seals

Depth

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

Water Column

Surface Midwater Above surface

Max Size

2.3 m

Diet

Carnivore

Commercial Species

No

Global Dispersal

Native to Australia

Conservation Status

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