Fur Seal | Go Galapagos
Mammals

Fur Seal

Fur Seal Gallery

More about  Fur Seal

The Fur Seal is the second species of sea lion, that can be found in the archipelago. Such species is more nocturnal and less social when compared to the sea lion. However, their wildness, impressive vision and swimming skills make them very interesting to watch and no one can deny that they are very adorable and extremely cute to watch, also they are the fluffiest  species.

The fur seal is smaller than the sea lion, about 1.5m (5ft) and is very shy and rare to see. They prefer the rocks rather than the beaches and they have nocturnal habits.

Fur seals are less in numbers when compared to the sea lion, as they were heavily hunted back in the day by the first colonizers,.and sailors in the 19th century.

The fur seal  spend more time in land than they do in water.

Fur seals are usually found in the west side of the archipelago, where the quantity of food is almost always higher. They feed mostly on cephalopods and small fish. As they hunt mainly at night, they have developed accurate techniques and tools such as their whiskers, which can be used to track the waves the fish make on the dark water.

The fur seal females are very territorial, claiming an area for breeding. This species unfortunately has a low rate of reproduction, they breed one pup a year. Females typically go hunting for about 1 day and return to feed the pup. The fur seal pup recognizes their mother by calls and noises, only known to them.

Fur seals can be found  by the rocks, resting in small groups or by themselves around the islets. They mainly like places where they can sleep between rocks or dark hidden areas.

Places where you may see this animal:

Fur Seal
  • Animal Group: Mammals
  • Scientific Name: Arctophoca galapagoensis
  • Animal Average Size: 120 - 150 cm
  • Animal Average Weight: 22 - 34 kg

Galapagos Animals

Mockingbird

View more

Galapagos Hawk

View more

Yellow Warbler

View more

Galapagos Green Sea Turtle

View more

Brown Noddy Tern

View more

Great Blue Heron

View more

Blue-Footed Booby

View more

Galapagos Flamingo

View more

Lava Heron

View more

Nazca Booby

View more

American Oystercatcher

View more

Whitetip Reef Shark

View more

Land Iguana

View more

Galapagos Brown Pelican

View more

Stingrays

View more

Red-Billed Tropicbird

View more

Giant Tortoise - Lonesome George

View more

Waved Albatross

View more

Galapagos Penguin

View more

Marine Iguana

View more

Sea Lion

View more

Red-Footed Booby

View more

Swallow-Tailed Gull

View more

Galapagos Barn Owl

View more

Darwin Finches

View more

Dolphins

View more

Whales

View more

Galapagos Flightless Cormorant

View more

Frigatebird

View more
Open chat
Hello 👋
Can we help you?