#0457 · 🦊 mammals

Antarctic Fur Seal

🇳🇱 Kerguelenzeebeer ·Arctocephalus gazella

ENendangered 🦊 Mammals 📍 outside Europe

8 photos from iNaturalist (Creative Commons) · credits & licences

what is it?

The Antarctic fur seal ( Arctocephalus gazella ) is one of eight seals in the genus Arctocephalus , and one of nine fur seals in the subfamily Arctocephalinae. As its name suggests, the Antarctic fur seal is distributed in Antarctic waters. Around 95% of the world population breeds at the Island of South Georgia. It is named after the German naval vessel, the corvette SMS Gazelle , which collected the first specimen from Kerguelen Island. The species is also known...

base stats

NL sightings 0iNaturalist, research grade
worldwide 2,216iNaturalist observations
threat ENendangered

Bars compare against all animals on log scales: up to 300,000 Dutch and 600,000 worldwide sightings (the most-seen species), 150 t (blue whale), 30 m and 400 years (Greenland shark).

fun facts

No confirmed wild sightings in the Netherlands on iNaturalist: you'd have to travel for this one.
2,216 observations worldwide on iNaturalist.
Scientifically named by Wilhelm Peters in 1875 (151 years ago).
Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List.