SUBANTARCTIC FUR SEAL

Tavishi

The Subantarctic fur seal is one of my favorite fur seals, second only to the Northern fur seal (the males kinda look like water goats).

As the name might suggest, the Subantarctic fur seal, or Arctocephalus tropicalis, is found in all the sorta Antarctic areas that aren't quite as frigid. I'd argue "tropicalis" is a misnomer, though, because I would certainly not consider Prince Edward Islands tropical.

Note: the Prince Edward Islands are not the Canadian province, Prince Edward Islands. The Prince Edward Islands are two uninhabited (barring research facilities) subantarctic islands that are technically the property of South Africa. One of the two islands, Marion Island, is a prominent breeding ground for A. tropicalis.

The Subantarctic fur seal is a pretty good demonstration of the phenomenon of sexual dimorphism. Sexual dimorphism is when the male and female of a species appear radically different. For example, in South American sea lions, Otaria flavescens, the males have a fat-ass fluffy neck, and are significantly larger and dumber-looking than the females.

the left is female, right is male

In pinnipeds, sexual dimorphism is more prevalent in otariids (sea lions and fur seals) than phocids and odobenids (seals and walruses.) Generally, you can identify the male of a species because the males look dumber (see: huge bump on head.)

A. tropicalis has the usual size difference: males are larger than females. In addition, males are much darker in color than females, and have a tuft of fur on their head. When they are excited, the fur on their head stands erect.

In addition, the Subantarctic fur seal is a prime specimen for countershading, a form of camouflage where the animal is darker dorsally, and lighter ventrally. Think of it like this: if you're sitting at the bottom of the ocean, things are light, and the lighter chest of a seal will blend in. But if you're flying on top, you see the substrate at the bottom of the water, and so something darker is easier to blend in.

A. tropicalis bears pups from October to January. When pups are first born, they have a black pelage.

Phocid pups generally have a white fluffy lanugo coat, with an exception being the Hawaiian monk seal. However, most otariid pups are born black. Again, exceptions are found. The Antarctic fur seal is known to have a large population of leucistic pups, which is kinda like Albino Lite.

Anyways, A. tropicalis pups lactate and rely on their mother for the first eleven months of life. But while the pup's life revolves around mom for nearly all their first year, their mother is done with them pretty quick.

About eight days after giving birth, Subantarctic fur seals begin mating again, beginning yet another eleven months of pregnancy. By the time of the birth of their next pup, their previous pup is all weaned and ready to go off on their own.

At 3 months, the pups start to look more like their parents, and undergo their first molt, shedding their black pelage. Every year after that throughout their adult life, they'll return to shore to molt during the spring. But for the most part, they'll spend the duration of their lifespan on the open sea.

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PUNS!

What do you call a Subantarctic fur seal that needs a bath?

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Tubantarctic fur seal

What parasite do Subantarctic fur seals get?

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SubantarcTICK