The Posing Seal

Photograph taken in Milford Sound. The New Zealand fur seal is a fairly large mammal. Males have been reported to be as large as 250 kg in the... more

by Jennie Breeze

Title

The Posing Seal

Artist

Jennie Breeze

Medium

Photograph - Original Img_2779

Description

Photograph taken in Milford Sound. The New Zealand fur seal is a fairly large mammal. Males have been reported to be as large as 250 kg in the literature, but the average weight is about 126 kg. Males can also grow to be 2 meters long. Females are between 30￿50 kg on average, and can grow to be as long as 1.5 meters. Pups are 3.3-3.9 kg on average, and between 40 and 55 cm long. They have external ears and hind flippers that rotate forward, which visibly distinguish them from other seals. They have a pointy nose with long pale whiskers. The fur seals are covered by two layers of fur, and their coat is grey-brown on their back, but it is lighter on their belly. Some fur seals have white tips on longer upper hairs, which can give the fur seal a silver like appearance. Arctocephalus forsteri, also known as the New Zealand fur seal or southern fur seal, is a species of fur seal found around the south coast of Australia, the coast of the South Island of New Zealand, and some of the small islands to the south and east of there. The English common name New Zealand fur seal is used by English speakers in New Zealand (kekeno is used in the M￿i language), and southern fur seal by English speakers in Australia. Although the two populations show some genetic differences, their morphologies are very similar, and thus they remain classed as a single species. Although the seals look docile, they can move surprisingly quickly and it is advisable never to approach a female with young or get between a seal and the water, cutting off its escape route to the sea.

Uploaded

April 29th, 2014