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Juan Fernández Fur Seal

Mammals

The Juan Fernández fur seal, Arctocephalus philippii, is the second smallest fur seal after the Galapagos fur seal and lives only on the Pacific coast of South America, on the Juan Fernández Islands and the Desventuradas Islands. Females average about 45 kg and 1.37 m, males about 140 kg and 1.98 m, with brown pelage. Heavily hunted for the fur trade after its discovery in the sixteenth century, it was thought extinct until about 200 animals turned up in the 1960s, and more than 12,000 are now estimated. Little is known of its diet beyond lanternfish and squid taken by lactating females, and its average lifespan is still unknown.

Facts
Classification
Diet
Carnivore 1
Population Trend
Increasing 1
System (Realm)
Marine 1
Threats
Biological Resource Use 1
Relationship to People
Hunted or Fished 1
Living or Extinct
Yes 1
Conservation Status
Least Concern 2
Body Size Band
Large 3
Comparison
CITES Appendix
Appendix II 2
Connections

Child Taxon Of

Arctocephalus, Taxa
Source Juan Fernández fur seal (Wikipedia)
Otariidae, Taxa
Source Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Arctocephalus philippii (Animal Diversity Web)

In Biome

Marine, Biomes
Source Juan Fernández fur seal (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases

Found In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject is found.

Source Juan Fernández fur seal (Wikipedia)Distribution
Quote, Distribution
They are found only on the Pacific Coast of South America
Sources
1. Juan Fernández fur seal (Wikipedia)
  • Article text, sys
    They are found only on the Pacific Coast of South America, more specifically on the Juan Fernández Islands and the Desventuradas Islands.
  • Article text, diet
    to find lanternfish and squid
  • Article text, ext
    They are found only on the Pacific Coast of South America, more specifically on the Juan Fernández Islands and the Desventuradas Islands.
  • Article text, hum
    the population was decimated by over hunting for the fur trade
  • Conservation
    they are still recovering now
  • Conservation, threats
    Once the seal was discovered the population was decimated by over hunting for the fur trade.
  • Child Taxon Of: Arctocephalus, Lead, tax
    The Juan Fernández fur seal (Arctocephalus philippii) is the second smallest of the fur seals
  • In Biome: Marine, Article text, biome
    They are found only on the Pacific Coast of South America, more specifically on the Juan Fernández Islands and the Desventuradas Islands.
  • In Group: Pinnipeds (Seals, Sea Lions and the Walrus), Article text, grp
    The Juan Fernandez fur seal is part of the group of eared seals.
View the Source
2. SeaLifeBase: Arctocephalus philippii
SeaLifeBase
  • IUCN Red List Status
    Least Concern (LC) ; Date assessed: 10 October 2014
  • CITES status
    Appendix II: International trade monitored
View the Source
3. Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology: Arctocephalus philippii (Animal Diversity Web)
Animal Diversity Web, University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
  • Physical Description, range mass
    50 to 140 kg
  • Child Taxon Of: Otariidae, Reproduction
    the highest of any member of the family Otariidae examined
View the Source
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