Otariidae - fur seals, sea lions
 There are 16 species in this family. They are found along coastlines around North and South America, Northern and Central Asia, and along the southwest coast of Australia.
They have long, fur-covered bodies; external ears; front and rear flippers; and a very short tail. Their front flippers have claws on the end. The species in this family use their front and rear flippers to walk on land and they use their front flippers to propel themselves through the water.
Fur seals and sea lions are very social and live in large groups. They eat fish and crustaceans. In the United States, the species in this family are found along the Pacific Coast.
World Status Key
 Least Concern  Near Threatened  Vulnerable  Endangered  Critically Endangered  Extinct in Wild  Extinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.
US Status Key
 Threatened in US  Threatened in NH  Endangered in US  Endangered in NH  Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game
Additional Information
Key:  Profile  Photos  Video  Audio
Afro-Australian Fur Seal - Arctocephalus pusillus     
The Afro-Australian fur seal is also known as the brown fur seal or the Cape fur seal.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Afro-Australian Fur Seal - Arctocephalus pusillus
The Afro-Australian fur seal has two subspecies. Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus is found along the southern coast of Africa and Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus is found along the southern coast of Australia.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Antarctic Fur Seal - Arctocephalus gazella 
Close to 95% of the population of Antarctic fur seals breeds on the island of South Georgia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Antarctic Fur Seal - Arctocephalus gazella
The Antarctic fur seal is can travel at speeds of up to 12 mph on land.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Australian Sea Lion - Neophoca cinerea
The Australian sea lion is found in on the south and west coasts of Australia.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Australian Sea Lion - Neophoca cinerea
The Australian sea lion is an excellent climber and very agile on land.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Californian Sea Lion - Zalophus californianus 
The California sea lion is found off the Pacific coast of North America from British Columbia to Mexico.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Californian Sea Lion - Zalophus californianus
The California sea lion can swim at speeds of up to 15-20 mph.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Californian Sea Lion - Zalophus californianus
The California sea lion can stay under water for up to 10 minutes.
Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Californian Sea Lion - Zalophus californianus
California sea lions are very social and often gather in large groups.
Source: Sea World Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Californian Sea Lion - Zalophus californianus
California sea lions eat fish, squid, and octopus.
Source: National Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Californian Sea Lion - Zalophus californianus
California sea lions are usually the sea lions you see at circuses, zoos, and aquariums doing tricks like balancing a ball on their nose.
Source: NOAA Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Galápagos Fur Seal - Arctocephalus galapagoensis 
The Galápagos fur seal is found in the Galápagos Islands.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Galápagos Fur Seal - Arctocephalus galapagoensis
The Galápagos fur seal spends more time on land than other species of fur seals.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Galápagos Sea Lion - Zalophus wollebaeki
The Galápagos sea lion is found in the Islands.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Guadalupe Fur Seal - Arctocephalus townsendi
The Guadalupe fur seal breeds on Guadalupe Island off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. They have been spotted as far north as the Channel Islands in California.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Guadalupe Fur Seal - Arctocephalus townsendi
Guadalupe fur seals live on rocky coasts and in the caves found along these shores.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Juan Fernández Fur Seal - Arctocephalus philippii
The Juan Fernández fur seal was once thought to be extinct. It breeds on the Juan Fernández Islands off the coast of Chile.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Juan Fernández Fur Seal - Arctocephalus philippii
The Juan Fernández fur seal often rests in the water with its head down and its hindflippers swaying out of the water.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
New Zealand Fur Seal - Arctocephalus forsteri
The New Zealand fur seal is found in off the coast of southern Australia and off the coast of South Island, New Zealand.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
New Zealand Fur Seal - Arctocephalus forsteri
Male New Zealand fur seals first establish and defend a mating territory when they are 8-10 years old.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
New Zealand Sea Lion - Phocarctos hookeri
The New Zealand sea lion is also known as the Hooker's sea lion. It is found on sandy beaches in New Zealand.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
New Zealand Sea Lion - Phocarctos hookeri
New Zealand sea lion pups explore freshwater creeks and pools behind the beach for their first six months.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Northern Fur Seal - Callorhinus ursinus 
The northern fur seal is found on coasts in the northern Pacific Ocean.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Northern Fur Seal - Callorhinus ursinus
The northern fur seal is a solitary animal, except during the breeding season.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
South American Fur Seal - Arctocephalus australis
The South American fur seal is found on the coast of Argentina, Brazil, Chile, the Falkland Islands, Peru, and Uruguay.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
South American Fur Seal - Arctocephalus australis
The South American fur seal is found on rocky shores and islands.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
South American Sea Lion - Otaria flavescens
The South American sea lion is found on the coasts of Brazil, Chile, the Falkland Islands, Peru, and Uruguay.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
South American Sea Lion - Otaria flavescens
Male South American sea lions are up to three times larger than females.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Steller Sea Lion - Eumetopias jubatus
The Steller
sea lion is found on the coast of Canada, Japan, Russia, and the western United States.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Steller Sea Lion - Eumetopias jubatus
Male Steller sea lions are very aggressive and territorial.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School
Subantarctic Fur Seal - Arctocephalus tropicalis
The Subantarctic fur seal is found in southern parts of the Indian and Atlantic Oceans.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School |
Europe 
NH 
Arctic Ocean 
Mediterranean/Black Sea