Arctocephalus is a genus of eared seals, family Otariidae, known as the fur seals, containing eight currently recognized extant species, though the exact count remains debated given limited molecular data, distributed across the Southern Hemisphere around subantarctic islands, the southern coasts of Africa and Australia, the Galapagos Islands and South American waters. Its name means bear head; like other otariids it has external ear flaps and can rotate its hind flippers forward to move on land, and it is distinguished from sea lions chiefly by a dense fur coat, which historically made it a target of commercial hunting.
Facts
Taxonomic Rank Member Count Band Era First Appeared Classification
Living or Extinct Connections
Parent Taxon Of
Source Antarctic fur seal (Wikipedia)
Source Arctocephalus pusillus (Wikipedia)
Source Galápagos fur seal (Wikipedia)
Source Guadalupe fur seal (Wikipedia)
Source Juan Fernández fur seal (Wikipedia)
Source Arctocephalus forsteri (Wikipedia)
Source South American fur seal (Wikipedia)
Source Subantarctic fur seal (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Wikidata (taxon extant/extinct status)
Wikimedia Foundation / Wikidata contributorsQ776652, descriptionView the Source 2. Wikipedia: Arctocephalus
Taxonomic rank (Wikipedia confirms the entity; rank from slug/structure-wave classification)View the Source 3. Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank): Taxon metrics for Arctocephalus
Catalogue of Life (ChecklistBank)Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCountQuote, Taxon metrics, speciesExtantCount
"speciesExtantCount": 7
4. Paleobiology Database: Taxon record for Arctocephalus
Paleobiology DatabaseTaxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)Quote, Taxon record, first appearance (firstapp_max_ma, early_interval)
"taxon_name": "Arctocephalus" ... "firstapp_max_ma": 5.333 ... "early_interval": "Zanclean"
Wikidata: Arctocephalus
Wikidata Q776652, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source Arctocephalus pusillus (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Cape Fur Seal, Lead, taxQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Cape Fur Seal, Lead, tax
Arctocephalus pusillus, commonly known as the Afro-Australian fur seal, or brown fur seal is a species of fur seal.
Subantarctic fur seal (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Subantarctic Fur Seal, Lead, taxQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Subantarctic Fur Seal, Lead, tax
The subantarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) is a species of eared seal
Antarctic fur seal (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Antarctic Fur Seal, Lead, taxQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Antarctic Fur Seal, Lead, tax
The Antarctic fur seal is a member of the genus Arctocephalus.
Guadalupe fur seal (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Guadalupe Fur Seal, Lead, taxQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Guadalupe Fur Seal, Lead, tax
is one of eight members of the fur seal genus Arctocephalus
Juan Fernández fur seal (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Juan Fernández Fur Seal, Lead, taxQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Juan Fernández Fur Seal, Lead, tax
The Juan Fernández fur seal (Arctocephalus philippii) is the second smallest of the fur seals
Arctocephalus forsteri (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: New Zealand Fur Seal, Lead, taxQuote, Parent Taxon Of: New Zealand Fur Seal, Lead, tax
Arctocephalus forsteri (common names include
Galápagos fur seal (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: Galápagos Fur Seal, Lead, taxQuote, Parent Taxon Of: Galápagos Fur Seal, Lead, tax
is one of eight seals in the genus Arctocephalus
South American fur seal (Wikipedia)
Parent Taxon Of: South American Fur Seal, Lead, taxQuote, Parent Taxon Of: South American Fur Seal, Lead, tax
The South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) breeds on the coasts of Peru, Chile, the Falkland Islands, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil.
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