Unlike the more uniformly colored fur seals, this species sports a dark brown or gray back with a strikingly lighter, almost golden chest and belly, giving it a “tuxedo-like” look. Add in its long whiskers, playful eyes, and dog-like face, and you have one of the most photogenic seals of the Southern Ocean. Despite its name, the Subantarctic fur seal prefers the milder climates of islands just north of Antarctica rather than the icy continent itself.
One of the unique things about the Subantarctic fur seal is its distribution. While other fur seals often stick to a limited region, this species breeds on isolated islands scattered across the southern Atlantic and Indian Oceans, including Tristan da Cunha, Prince Edward Islands, Amsterdam Island, and Gough Island. Living in these remote locations, far from human activity, has helped their populations bounce back after being hunted nearly to extinction during the 18th and 19th centuries for their thick, soft fur.
The Subantarctic fur seal is also notable for its diet and diving skills. These agile swimmers mainly eat fish and squid, but they are flexible hunters. They are excellent night feeders, often following schools of lanternfish that rise to the surface after dark. Like their relatives, they have strong front flippers that make them equally at home climbing awkwardly on rocky coasts and darting gracefully through the water. Breeding season is one of their most dramatic times: males arrive early to stake out territories and defend harems of females with loud calls, chest-puffing, and the occasional physical fight.
These seals can handle the cold, stormy waters around their island homes thanks to their thick, insulating fur. Another interesting twist: despite being called tropicalis, meaning “tropical,” they live in decidedly chilly climates—this confusing name comes from the first specimens collected on Amsterdam Island, which is in warmer waters compared to Antarctica.
Distribution
Angola
Antarctica
Argentina
Australia
Bouvet Island
Brazil
Chile
Comoros
French Southern T.
Heard & McDonald
Madagascar
Mauritius
Mozambique
Namibia
New Zealand
Saint Helena
South Africa
South GeorgiaAnything we've missed?
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Terrestrial / Aquatic
Altricial / Precocial
Polygamous / Monogamous
Dimorphic (size) / Monomorphic
Active: Diurnal / Nocturnal
Social behavior: Solitary / Pack / Herd
Diet: Carnivore / Herbivore / Omnivore / Piscivorous / Insectivore
Migratory: Yes / No
Domesticated: Yes / No
Dangerous: Yes / No
