What are the predators of fur seals?

What are the predators of fur seals?

Predation. The killer whale is a primary predator of northern fur seals, but Steller sea lions are also known to prey on northern fur seals. Sharks may also prey on northern fur seals.

Does the Galapagos fur seal have any predators?

The Galapagos fur seal’s natural predators are killer whales and shark, but are also threatened by feral dogs living on the islands they inhabit. There is little interaction between humans and Galapagos fur seals, but in the early 20th century they were hunted for their fur.

What threats do Australian Fur Seals face?

Fur seals face several threats to their survival, although they are a protected species….Avoid:

• approaching fur seals – especially during breeding season and when pups are around.
• Throwing fishing gear and other rubbish into the ocean.
• releasing chemicals in waterways – most of them lead eventually to the ocean.

How many Australian Fur Seals are left?

They are now fully protected, and though there has been some recovery, they are still estimated to number only half their pre-hunting population. It is now estimated that 120,000 Australian Fur Seals live in the wild in Australia.

Why is a fur seal not a sea lion?

The features to distinguish them from each other are that Fur seals have a much thicker fur then Sea lions. Sea lions are larger in size then Fur seals, while the sexual dimorphism (size difference between male and females) is larger in Fur seals then Sea lions.

Are fur seals sea lions or seals?

Fur seals are any of nine species of pinnipeds belonging to the subfamily Arctocephalinae in the family Otariidae. They are much more closely related to sea lions than true seals, and share with them external ears (pinnae), relatively long and muscular foreflippers, and the ability to walk on all fours.

How many Galapagos fur seals are left?

Galapagos fur seals do not migrate. Current population size is estimated at about 10,000-15,000. A former estimate of about 40,000 was based on a survey from 1978, and it is thought that the 1982-83 El Niño event significantly reduced the population.

What fish do Galapagos fur seals eat?

Feeding Habits. Fur seals feed on cephalopods such as small squid as well as a variety of fish that are only up to 50 feet below the sea’s surface. Males do not feed while they are defending their territories.

Is it illegal to own a seal in Australia?

Under the EPBC Act all seals and sea lions occurring within Australian waters are listed as marine species ( EPBC Act 1999; section 248). It is an offence to kill, injure, take, trade, keep, or move any member of a listed marine species on Australian Government land or in Commonwealth waters without a permit.

How far out to sea do seals go?

Adult harbor seals can dive as deep as 1500 feet and stay underwater over 30 minutes! To do this, they rely on their amazing oxygen storage capabilities. Harbor seals have a grater volume of blood than other land mammals their size.

What animal did seals evolve from?

The earliest ancestors of seals and sea lions were mammals that transitioned from life on land to life at sea. Around 36 million years ago, at the end of the Oligocene, the ocean began to cool, which caused major changes to ocean circulation.

Are NZ fur seals native to Australia?

Long-nosed fur seals are native to South Australia. They are not an introduced species and are a natural part of our marine environment. They were originally called black fur seals then New Zealand fur seals.

What are the Predators of the Australian fur seal?

Natural threats to the Australian fur seal include predators such as orcas and large sharks, as well as the dangers of living in one of the roughest bodies of water in the world, Bass Strait. Young pups or juveniles can be washed off rocks or battered against them in rough weather.

What is the population of the Australian fur seal?

Population number According to the IUCN Red List, the total Australian fur seal population size is around 120,000 individuals. Currently this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) and its numbers today are increasing.

What kind of face does a fur seal have?

Fur seals have large eyes, a pointed face with whiskers and sharp teeth. The Australian Fur Seal, Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus is the largest of all the fur seals. It has a broad head, pointed snout and long backward sweeping facial vibrissae (whiskers).

What do Seals sound like in Australia?

These seals have a call that sounds something like a cow mooing (the adults), or a bleating lamb (pups). The Australian fur seal inhabits south-eastern Australia, from the locality of Port Stephens to islands off the coast of Tasmania and in the Bass Strait, with one colony on the Tasmanian mainland.