The South American fur seal (Arctocephalus australis) breeds on the coasts of Peru, Chile, the Falkland Islands, Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. South American fur seals are of least concern on the IUCN Red List.Arctocephalus australis have a dark grey or brown fur coat and are sexually dimorphic. Males compete for territory and females to mate with, forming a dominance hierarchy. Breeding season is from October to December,
A description of the species and their distribution and habitat, conservation status, feeding behaviors, lifespan and mating practices, field identification, and additional behaviors is further discussed in this article.
Description
thumb|South American Fur Seal in Captivitythumb|South American Fur Seal with [[South American sea lion]]
The South American fur seals has a dark grey or brown coat of fur. The size of the seals varies based on region, but on average, adult males measure up to 2 m long and weigh 150–200 kg and females measure up to 1.5 m long and weigh 30–60 kg. Newborns are 60 to 65 cm and 3.5 to 5.5 kg.
The total population is around 300,000-450,000. followed by Uruguay (pup abundance ~31,000). The population of South American fur seals in 1999 was estimated at 390,000, a drop from a 1987 estimate of 500,000 - however a paucity of population data, combined with inconsistent census methods, makes it difficult to interpret global population trends.
Conservation
South American Fur Seals are of least concern on the IUCN Red List.