Antarctic fur seal

The Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus gazella) is a marine mammal that breeds on islands in the Southern Ocean and feeds mainly on krill and fish.

Arctocephalus: A genus of fur seals in the family Otariidae, native to the Southern Hemisphere. The Antarctic fur seal is one of the genus’s living species.
Krill: Small marine crustaceans that form dense swarms and provide food for many Southern Ocean animals. Antarctic fur seals rely heavily on krill, especially during the breeding season.
South Georgia: A mountainous island in the South Atlantic Ocean and a major breeding site for Antarctic fur seals. Its beaches host a large share of the species’ breeding population.
Commercial sealing: The large-scale hunting of seals for products such as oil, fur, and skins. Commercial sealing sharply reduced Antarctic fur seal numbers in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries.
Macquarie Island: An Australian subantarctic island in the Southern Ocean and a breeding site for Antarctic fur seals. Its colony provides a long-running case for studying population change.
Eared seal: A pinniped in the family Otariidae, distinguished by external ear flaps and foreflippers used for propulsion. Its visible ears and swimming anatomy identify it as an eared seal.
Foraging: The search for and acquisition of food by an animal. Females make repeated feeding trips while nursing pups ashore.
Southern Ocean: The ocean surrounding Antarctica, defined by the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and its boundaries. This is the marine environment where the species feeds and migrates.
Population recovery: An increase in a population after decline, often following reduced mortality or improved conditions. After sealing ended, populations rebounded dramatically at several breeding sites.
Kerguelen Islands: A remote French archipelago in the southern Indian Ocean with Antarctic fur seal breeding colonies. The islands support a major population far from South Georgia.

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