Arctocephalus galapagoensis Heller 1904

• 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 galapagoensis; Buff; Galapagos; Orca; Orcinus orca
• Online Access: https://zenodo.org/record/6604496; https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6604496

5. Galapagos Fur Seal Arctocephalus galapagoensis French: Otarie des Galapagos / German: Galapagos-Seebar / Spanish: Lobo marino de las Galapagos Other common names: Galapagos Islands Fur Seal Taxonomy. Arctocephalus galapagoensis Heller, 1904, “Wenman Island,” Galapagos Islands, Ecuador. Formerly, A. galapagoensis was considered a subspecies of A. australis. Monotypic. Distribution. Galapagos Is, where they occur on almost all the islands. Descriptive notes. Total length 150-160 cm (males) and 110-130 cm (females); weight 60-68 kg (males) and up to 33 kg, average 27-3 kg (females). Neonates are 60-80 cm and 3-4 kg. Dental formula I 3/2, C 1/1, PC 6/5 (x 2) = 36. Galapagos Fur Seals are the smallest species of otariid, and the least sexually dimorphic. Mature males are 1-1-1-3 times the length and 2-2-3 times the weight of mature females. They appear small and relatively compact. Short, straight muzzle tapers to small nose. Vibrissae are pale in adults. Eyes are large, and ear pinnae are long and conspicuous. Although they do not have a mane, adult male Galapagos Fur Seals have thicker shoulders than females. Males do not develop noticeable sagittal crest, but crown of head is slightly round compared with more flattened crown of females. Flippers are short and have dark, sparse, short fur that extends beyond wrists and ankles onto dorsal surface offlippers that are otherwise covered in black leathery skin. Fur is dark brown with gray to ruddy grizzling. In both sexes, muzzle is mostly buff-colored, and adult males can appear to be wearing pale mask. Adult females have pale grayishbuffy chest, and belly is buff to ruddy brown. Young are blackish, occasionally with pale fur around mouth and nose. Habitat. Significant time hauled out on shore and favor rocky coasts with boulders and ledges for shelter from the sun. Because many Galapagos Fur Seals bear scars from shark bites, predators include sharks, as well as Killer Whales (Orcinus orca). Feral dogs are the only important terrestrial predators. Food and Feeding. ...