Arctocephalus gazella

• Main Authors: Russell A. Mittermeier, Don E. Wilson
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: unknown
• Published: Lynx Edicions 2014
• Subjects: Biodiversity; Taxonomy; Animalia; Chordata; Mammalia; Carnivora; Otariidae; Arctocephalus; Arctocephalus gazella; Antarctic; The Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Kerguelen; Buff; Anse Betsy; Antarc*; Antarctic Fur Seal; Antarctic Fur Seals; Antarctica; Antarctique*
• Online Access: https://zenodo.org/record/6604425; https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6604425

2. Antarctic Fur Seal Arctocephalus gazella French: Otarie antarctique / German: Kerguelen-Seebar / Spanish: Lobo marino antértico Other common names: Kerguelen Fur Seal Taxonomy. Arctophoca gazella Peters, 1875, “von Seehunden aus Kerguelenland.” Restricted by V. B. Scheffer in 1958 to “Anse Betsy (49° 09’ S, 70° 11" E)” (= south-east of Africa, halfway to Antarctica). A. gazella was once considered a subspecies of A. tropicalis. Monotypic. Distribution. Subantarctic and Antarctic waters S of, or just N of, the Antarctic Convergence, and scattered islands in this zone, mainly South Georgia. Regular haul-out areas include the Antarctic Peninsula. Descriptive notes. Total length mean 188 cm but up to 200 cm (males) and 120-140 cm (females); weight 130-204 kg, mean 188 kg (males) and 22-51 kg, mean 40 kg (females) Newborns are 63-67 cm and 6-7 kg. Dental formula 13/2, C 1/1, PC 6/5 (x 2) = 36. Antarctic Fur Seals are strongly sexual dimorphic. Mature males weigh 4-5 times as much as females and are 1-4-1-5 times longer. Muzzle is of moderate size and length, tapering to slightly pointed nose that reaches just past mouth. Pale ear pinnae are long and conspicuous. Vibrissae are pale and quite noticeable; adult male Antarctic Fur Seals have some of the longest whiskers of any pinniped, up to 50 cm. Subadults have darker vibrissae that become paler as they grow to adulthood. Adult males have mane of long guard hairs reaching from head to chest, and broad and muscular shoulders and neck. Adult females and subadults are hard to distinguish from males until they are 4-6 years old. Flippers have dark, sparse, short fur that extends beyond wrists and ankles onto dorsal surface of flippers that are otherwise covered in black leathery skin. Fore and hindflippers are long, and first digit is longer than the rest and curves back. Adult males are dark gray to charcoal, with creamy orsilver grizzling on mane and sides. Underfur is buff-colored. Fur of adult females and subadults ranges from gray to brown and may be paler on ...