Species Data
Common Name
Galapagos fur seal
Scientific Name
Arctocephalus galapagoensis
Spanish Name
Oso marino de las Galapagos
Conservation Status
Endangered
Endemic/Native/Introduced
Endemic
Size
up to 1.5m
Average Lifespan
Up to 20 years
Predators
Orcas and sharks
Food
Piscivore (fish, octopi and small squid)
Animal Class
Mammal
Species Overview
Galapagos fur seals are typically found on the rocky shores of the western islands of the Galapagos Archipelago in small groups of six to ten individuals. They are generally smaller and shyer than Galapagos sea lions and are fully protected under Ecuadorian Law after they were hunted to near extinction by humans in the early 20th century.
Galapagos fur seals have large eyes so that they can hunt at night and still keep a look out for predators such as sharks. Although they are capable of diving to much deeper depths, seals tend to dive to between 10 and 50m.
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