Arctocephalus australis Zimmermann 1783

• 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 australis; South Atlantic Ocean; Southern Fur Seal
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6604504; http://treatment.plazi.org/id/965C87FE1E59564A9CC8948086C5F22C

6. South American Fur Seal Arctocephalus australis French: Otarie des Falkland / German: Stidamerika-Seebar / Spanish: Lobo marino de dos pelos Other common names: Falkland Fur Seal, Peruvian Fur Seal, Southern Fur Seal Taxonomy. Phoca australis Zimmermann 1783, , “Wohnt um Juan Fernandez, und uberhaupt in dortigen Meeren” (= lives to Juan Fernandez, and even in local areas. ) Taxonomy of A. australis is uncertain at the subspecific level. Recent work has established that fur seals from Brazil to Argentina, including the Falkland Islands (Malvinas), those in the south-western Pacific Ocean in southern Chile, and another group form central Peru to northern Chile are separate Evolutionarily Significant Units (ESUs). The strongest differences reported were between previously unrecognized ESUs from Peru to northern Chile and in the western South Atlantic Ocean. Also noteworthy was the almost 20° latitude gap with no A. australis between the two ESUs in the eastern South Pacific Ocean providing a strong barrier isolating the Peruvian and northern Chilean ESUs from the other ESUs. All three ESUs are probably worthy of subspecific distinction. Although several schemes have been suggested, taxonomy and naming of these ESUs remains unresolved. The relationship of A. forsteri to the A. australis ESUsis also controversial with one recommendation that A. forsteri is yet another subspecies of the A. australis complex. More research also needs to be done on the relationship of A. galapagoensis to the A. australis ESUs. Monotypic. , , Distribution. S South America, from Uruguay S to Cape Horn and the Falkland Is on the Atlantic side; on the Pacific side, the Magellanic region and from C Peru to N Chile; regularly visits S Brazil. Descriptive notes. Total length up to 190 cm (males) and 150 cm (females); weight 120-160 kg and maybe to as much as 200 kg (males) and 40-50 kg (females). Newborns are 40-65 cm and 3.3-5.5 kg. Dental formula I 3/2, C 1/1, PC 6/5 (x 2) 36. South American Fur Seals are sexually dimorphic. Adults are ...