User:Heathermolander/Sandbox

Article Evaluation

Fur Seal

Needs more citations
lacks anatomy & physiology section
Behavior & ecology section could be expanded on
Checked some of the links & they work
First reference seems questionable- not professionally written or designed-cannot find where the information is coming from?
Not all facts stated are backed up with evidence
Exploitation is a strange header
Article listed as "start class" in quality rating

Choosing a Topic

Fur Seal

Short article
each subheading could use more insight and expansion
needs more research based facts
needs more reliable sources
could change "Exploitation" header to something more neutral- state the facts without bias
Follow "exploitation" edits with possible contemporary regulations
Conservation status, threats, controversies
possible research & efforts to improve quality of life
Break "behavior & ecology" into more specific & effective subheadings including feeding/foraging/diet, reproduction/mating/life cycle, habitat/ecological role etc..
highlight specific differences between fur seals & others
Evolution & history
Anatomy & physiology rather than "physical appearances"?
Taxonomy heading stated twice

Sea Lion

good structure of headings and subheadings
each fact appears to be cited correctly
abundance of references compared to "Fur Seal" article
checked some of the links-they all worked and provided relevant information
Parasites and Diseases heading seems random- could be changed "Environmental impacts" or something relating to the effects of climate change- since that is what the following paragraph refers to.
Some of the sections are too long, could be condensed to just stating the facts
"Gene expressions and diet" could be condensed into relevant information regarding the diet of sea lions, and possibly their foraging habits
good classification summary
overall good amount of information but a bit wordy at times
start-class with mid importance
climate change is brought up a lot and could be considered bias

Galapagos fur seal

lacks a leading paragraph introducing the key points of the article
i like that the reproduction section was further split into relevant categories
Feeding and predation could be a little more in depth
could use more information regarding the El Nino year and why their is such a competition for food, leading to the death of the young pups
Citation needed for the "conservation" section
could use more references and relevant facts regarding the Galapagos fur seal
any significant differences separating them from other fur seals
reproduction patterns were covered more extensively than the other categories
good amount of information and straight to the point but could use more in depth research
all the references were relevant and the links worked

Editing an Article

Chosen topic: Fur Seal

*added to physical appearance & sources*

Is everything in the article relevant to the article topic? Is there anything that distracted you?

Everything relevant but very broad and lacks factual details

Is the article neutral? Are there any claims, or frames, that appear heavily biased toward a particular position?

Exploitation header can possibly be changed to something more neutral (Human interactions?) & can be followed by conservation efforts- how the species preservation has been improved, possible efforts to improve, possible research

Are there viewpoints that are overrepresented, or underrepresented?

Only the Galapagos fur seal is mentioned; each of the nine species should be represented at least briefly

Check a few citations. Do the links work? Does the source support the claims in the article?

The first link does not look reputable; not very professional appearance and lacking relevant information. Second reference looks appropriate & provides citations to other potential references. Third reference is outdated but provides empirical evidence regarding the diet of fur seals- particularly Antarctic fur seals preying on penguins. Fourth, and last, citation leads to a book summary that does not appear to be relevant to fur seals. If the information was found in the book (which is not available online), it is cited incorrectly.

Is each fact referenced with an appropriate, reliable reference? Where does the information come from? Are these neutral sources? If biased, is that bias noted?

Several facts are lacking appropriate, reliable references. Information attributed to the second and third citations can be found relatively easily, and can be expanded on. Alternative sources are needed to confirm the accuracy throughout the article.

Is any information out of date? Is anything missing that could be added?

The second source is outdated, but the empirical research regarding the diet of the Antarctic fur seals is still relevant. Additional sources should be explored to confirm, and expand on the fur seals diet and foraging behaviors. Sources addressing the anatomy and physiology are needed, along with accurate taxonomy distinctions.

Check out the Talk page of the article. What kinds of conversations, if any, are going on behind the scenes about how to represent this topic?

There is very little action on this talk page. One issue brought up was the "exploitation" header. It seems non-neutral, and negative, but a better heading has yet to be suggested.

How is the article rated? Is it a part of any WikiProjects?

This article is rated as start-class with mid-importance.

How does the way Wikipedia discusses this topic differ from the way we've talked about it in class?

It is more broad than our class discussions on different species of seals. The physiological and behavioral adaptations of fur seals in particular can be explored in further detail, and related to our class discussions.

Lead Section- give overview of article key points

Structure- arrange by theme, need headings & subheadings, appendices & footnotes at the end, balanced significant viewpoints, neutral language & emphasis on facts, related articles at end, images, break different species of fur seals into subtopics- summarize & provide link to the more detailed article

Classification

Suborder- Pinnipedia
Family- otariidae (eared seals)
Subfamily- arcocephalinae
Genus':

-Callorhinus -northern fur seal; one species (provide links) -Arctocephalus- southern fur seals; eight species Evolution & Taxonomy

lifespan
species divergence

Anatomy & appearance

average size

Physiology

Thermoregulation
Osmoregulation
Reproduction
Metabolic rate

Geographic variation & population

9 different species (genus?)
differences among species

-Behavior -Foraging -breeding -hauling out -fur seal callings & communications social systems

Name Classification (Genus) Appearance Habitat Food (Ecology) Breeding Extra Antarctic Fur seal Arctocephalus gazella Male; Avg 188 kg, 1.6-2m Females; 1.2-1.4m avg 37kg Pups (at birth); 60-73 cm , 4.5-6.5kg -pups born with black fur coat that molts 2-3 months later revealing a silver-gray coat -gets darker brown by adulthood -adult females & juveniles cream-colored chest -Atlantic waters -some seen as far north as Brazil & Juan Fernandez Islands -krill fish & squid -dive at night to feed -November-January -Seasonally ice-free islands near Antarctic polar front -95% of species breeds near South Georgia coast -sexual maturity at 3-4 years -males begin territorial at 6-10 years -male dominated breeding territory w/ about 10 females -abnormal female cycle * -males do not feed during breeding season -pup mortality for first yr= 24% -Avg dives 3-4 min @ 30-40 m -Can dive up to 10 min to 250m -estimated population of 4 mil -predators= orcas and leopard seals prey on juveniles & pups -almost extinct by 19th century because hunter for their fur -species now protected by the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (CCAS) & Antarctic Treaty -population growth now 10% per year -threats to the species= entanglement in man-made debris leading to drowning or starvation -males up to 15 yrs -females up to 23

Brown fur seal (South African & Australian) Arctocephalus pusillus -two subspecies; South African (Cape) fur seals (A. pusillus pusillus) & Australian fur seals (A. pusillus doriferus) -spilt into subspecies bc diff skull characteristics & diff geographic ranges -Cape fur seal males 1.8-2.3 m 200-360 kg, dark gray, dark brown or light brown coats -Cape adult females 1.2-1.7m 35-110 kg, lighter coats -pups born 60-80cm 5-6kg with black-brown coat -Cape fur seals found along coast of Namibia on African continent & along western & southern coasts of South Africa --Australian fur seals non-breeding found from kangaroo island in south Australia to Tasmania & Port Macquarie in New South Wales -Cape feed up to 180km off shore on pelagic schooling fish; sardines, anchovies, mackerel hake & cephalopods & crustaceans, occasionally sea birds like cape gannets, cape cormorants & penguins, opportunistic feeders, unlike other fur seals primarily feed on benthic (sea bottom), -breeding sites on rocky beaches on small islands, females reach maturity 3-4 yrs, males 4-5yrs -males don't start breeding till 10-13 yrs -males arrive late Oct-early Nov & fight for territories containing 7-30 females -males on shore about 6 weeks -pups born Nov-Dec -females give birth & mate & begin feeding cycle 6 days later -to sea for 3-4 days to feed, returns to nurse 2-3 days -feeding cycle lasts 8-10 months -Cape breeding colonies from Cape Frio, Namibia to Angolan border to Black Rocks near Port Elizabeth in South Africa -Australian fur seals breeding colonies found on 9 islands in the Bass strait off coasts of Victoria and Tasmania - Cape population estimated 1.5-2 mil -Cape not migratory species, can dive over 400m, preyed on by sharks and orcas -Australian population estimated 30,000-50,000, can dive over 200m, mainly preyed on by great white sharks & orcas -Cape live up to 25 yrs -Australian males up to 19 yrs -Australian females to 21 - Cape fur seals hunted & killed still, SA gov commercial "harvests" to decrease "culling" population -pups killed with clubs, adult males shot - South African Sea Birds and Seals Protection Act of 1973 Provides broad protection but still subject to gov authorized killing -Australian fur seals protected by Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) & state-specific legislation

Galapagos fur seal Arctocephalus galapagoensis -gray-brown above, lighter brown below -adult males 1.5m, 64 kg avg -females 1.2m, 28 kg avg -smallest of the pinnipeds -pups about 3-4.5 kg at birth -pups molt into graylish-brown fur at about 4 months -live only around the Galapagos islands -do not migrate -foraging trips at night 16.4 hrs avg to 30m -warmer months females spend 4-6 days in water foraging for food & 1 day on land -males defend territories & do not eat until all of stored energy depleted -feed on fish & cephalopods, close to shore & exclusively at night (when prey migrates closer to surface) -longest pupping period of any fur seal, pups born august-november -females reach maturity 3-4 yrs -males 7-10 yrs -breeding habitat rocky shores w sea caves on western coasts of the islands -females give birth 2-3 days after arriving -a week later begin feeding cycle, foraging 1-4 days, nursing 1 day -mates about 8 days after giving birth -longest nursing period of any seal (pups weaned 1-2 yrs) possibly to improve survival rates during scarce food during el ninos -females can dive to 169m for 6.5 min -30% of males die per yr in territorial fights -females also defend territories -unlike other fur seals, their territory in rocky areas with shade for cooling -must maintain internal body temp of 37.7 celcius -females teach pups thermoregulation (cooling in tide pools), also regulated internally with directional blood flow -smaller body size -can sweat & release heat quickly -preyed on by sharks & orcas -population estimated at 10,000-15,000, el nino event (1982-1983) significantly reduced population from 1978 estimation of 40,000 (starvation) -thousands killed by hunters in 19th century -protected under Ecuadorian legislation in 1930s -further protection when Galapagos islands established as national park in 1959. -listed as endangered Guadalupe fur seal Arctocephalus townsendi "bear headed" in latin -males 2.2m, 188kg avg -female 1.5m, 49 kg -extremely dimorphic -dark brown-black coat, light hairs on back of neck -only species of Arctocephalus found north of equator -not migratory -seen from Tapachula near Mexico-Guatemala border to Gulf of California -feed on squid and fish at night -Breeds on the Isla de Guadalupe, off the coast of Baja California, Mexico -rocky beaches or in caves -June to August -males fight for territories containing avg of 4 females -females give birth within first few dats, then mate a week later, then feeds at sea for 9-13 days, returns to nurse for 5-6 days -feeding cycle lasts 8-9 months (long compared to others) -males live 13 yr -females live 23 yrs -rarest of all fur seal species -population 7,000 recovering from exploitation -diving to avg 17m for 2.5 min -primary predators= sharks -nearly extinct by early 1800s due to commercial hunting -Isla de Guadalupe is now a pinniped sanctuary, protected by Mexican gov -Protected in the US by California as a threatened species Juan Fernandez fur seal Arctocephalus philippii -small -males 1.5-2.1 m, 140kg avg -females 1.4m, 50 kg -pups 65-70cm, 6-7 kg at birth -found near isolated rocks and small islands off the coast of Chile in the Juan Fernandez and San Felix/San Ambrosia island chain -seen hauling out at Punta San Juan on the Chilean mainland in fall & winter -some wander as far north as the Peruvian coast -narrow range of prey compared to other seals -myctophids (lanternfishes) & squid -likely due to availability not preference -breeding habits diff from other species -pupping between Nov-Dec, mating a week later -few days later begins feeding cycle -12 days of feeding (long for fur seal), 5 days of nursing, -cycle for 7-10 months -rocky sites for breeding but males fight for territory on land and on the shoreline & in the water -aquatic breeding territories not seen in other fur seals - -males live 13 yrs -females 23 yrs -species considered extinct but rediscovered in 1965 -population estimated 12,000 -not deep diving species -females dive avg of 12.3m -sharks & orcas= known predators -tide pools for thermoregulation -heavily exploited for pelt, blubber, meat and oil -believed to be extinct by 20th century -1978 given total protection by national Chilean legislation -still listed as Near Threatened on IUCN Red List New Zealand fur seal Arctocephalus forsteri -pointed noses, long whiskers, 2 layers of dark brown fur -male 1.5-2.5 m, 120-180kg -females 1-1.5 m, 30-50 kg -pups 55-70cm , 3.3-3.9 kg at birth, with long black hair that molts in 2-3 months to short gray-brown hair -develops into dark brown coat -found in New Zealand & Australia -rocky coastline in southern portion of New Zealand & offshore island -found in southern Australian islands, on Cape Leeuwin in Western Australia & on the south coast of Tasmania Opportunistic feeders -feeds on cephalopods, specifically arrow squids, Notodarus & Loligo), fish like lanternfish & hoki -occasionally feed on penguins on subantarctic islands -Females reach sexual maturity 4-5 yrs -males begin competing for territory around 9-10 yrs -compete for territory early Nov to breed with 7-16 females -breeding territories in rocky areas providing shelter and shade -females arrive late Nov, give birth 2-3 days later, mate 7-8 days later, begin feeding cycle 6-12 days after birth -feeds at sea 3-8 days, returns to nurse for 2-7 days -feeding trips lengthen as pup begins to wean at 9-10 months -males do not feed for 2-3 month breeding season -shorter life span than others -males up to 15 yrs -females up to 12 yrs -population in New Zealand estimated 50,000 & increasing -estimated 34,600 in Australia -known to dive up to 270m -predators= sharks, orcas, leopard seals, and New Zealand sea lions -pup mortality in first 300 days estimated about 40% -exploitation to near extinction by 19th century -now protected by New Zealand's Marine Mammals Protection Act -one environmental group reported an estimate of more than 10,000 New Zealand fur seals drowned in fishing nets -granted protection in Australia in 1972, and more protection by the creation of national parks and reserves

Northern fur seal Callorhinus ursinus -males brownish-gray to reddish-brown or black coats -females silvery-gray on dorsal and reddish-brown in front with light gray patch on their chest -males ave 2.1m, 175-275kg -females 1.4m, 30-50 kg -pups 60cm, 4.5-5.4kg avg at birth - -found throughout the north Pacific Ocean from the Bering Sea to southern California in east and central Japan in the west -highly migratory, known to travel distances up to 10,000 km -females & juveniles migrate to offshore waters from Canada to California, and as far west as south Japan -return to the Pribilof Islands off coast of Alaska in Bering Sea to breed -pelagic (open ocean) -mainly eat small schooling fish like walleye Pollock & squid -also on fish like sand lances, salmon, capelin, herring, mackerel -majority breed on the Pribilof Islands in southern Bering Sea -others include Commander islands, Kuril islands, and Tyuleniy island -females reach sexual maturity at 2-5 years, males at 4-5 years -males do not breed until 8-9 years -male reproductive peak lasts about two seasons -males arrive to breeding grounds in May to fight for territory -females arrive in mid-June and give birth 2 days later, mate 5-6 days later, then begin feeding cycle -feed 4-10 days, nurse 1-2 -pups weaned after about 4 months -Cycle lasts about 4 months, then females go south -males do not feed during breeding season -can live to about 25 yrs but life expectancy at birth less than 4 yrs -population estimate 1-1.3 mill -can dive up to 230m -predators include sharks, foxes, orca, and stellar sea lions -pup mortality about 50% in first year -mothers and pups locate each other using call recognition during nursing period -significant reduction in population in 19th & 20th centuries due to hunting -protected by the 1911 North Pacific Fur Seal Convention signed by the US, Japan, Russia, and the UK (for Canada)-banned the hunting of northern fur seals at sea -some still hunted on St. George & St. Paul islands for meat and fur -commercial fishing and el nino events reduces their food supply threatening their survival -environmental contamination in waters off of the Russian islands threatens -warmer waters drive away prey, making it more difficult to pups to get food and survive -northern fur seal has the oldest fossil record of any living otariid extending to the middle Pilocene -developed behavior called "jughandling" keeping their front and rear flippers out of the water while floating on the surface South American fur seal Arctocephalus australis -Gray-black coat -females and juveniles have lighter coloring on the chest -varies in size regionally -avg males up to 2 m, 150-200kg -females 1.5m, 30-60 kg -pups 55-65 cm, 3.5-5.5 kg, with black coat -ranging from Peninsula Paracas in southern Peru to coast of Rio Grande de Sul in southern Brazil -not migratory -adults feed almost exclusively on anchovies -juveniles feed on demersal (living near the bottom of the sea) fish -dive & feed at night -breeding season from October-December -females sexually mature at 3 yrs -males at 7 yrs but not breeding till 8 yrs -forms territory in intertidal zone (for access to water to cool) -5-10 days after pups birth, mom mates and begins feeding cycle -3-5 days feeding at sea, 1-2 days nursing -nursing period lasts 6-12 months -estimated population between 300,000-450,000 -females dive avg 40 m for 3 min when lactating -can dive to 170m for 7 minutes -predators= male south American sea lions, sharks, orcas -females travel with their pups between land and water -high mortality rate for newborn pups because of aggressive adults -hunted for its fur, leather, and oil as early as 1515 up until 1979 -now commericial hunting banned in Uruguay -protected in Peru since 1959, but poaching (illegal hunting) still occurs -at risk of environmental contamination from oil tankers off the coast of Uruguay particularly -also affected by el nino events -fishing nets & man-made materials risk entanglement

Sub Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus tropicalis -formerly known as the Amsterdam Island fur seal -adult coat dark brown on dorsal, yellow on chest -males usually darker than females, have characteristic crest on top of the head that stands erect when excited -pale coloring on the face that forms a "mask" -males up to 1.8 m, 165 kg -females 1.5m, 50-55 kg -pups 65 cm, 4-5kg at birth, with black coat that molts at about 3 months -found on temperate islands in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans north of the Antarctic Polar Front -largest colonies found at Gough, Amsterdam and the Prince Edward Islands -wandering juvenile males have been seen as far north as Brazil, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa -dive in shallow waters at night -when myctophid fish are near the surface -also eat squid -females reach sexual maturity 4-6 yrs, males 4-8 yrs -males not territorial until 10-11 -breeding males arrive to grounds in Nov -rocky shores usually contain between 4-12 females -defend territories by fighting & vocalization -females give birth then mate a week later then begin feeding cycle -feeding for 5 days, nurse for 2-3 days -wean at about 9 months -lactating females known to have longer foraging trips 11-23 days and 4 days on shore nursing -males live over 18 yrs -females live over 23 yrs -total population estimated 277,000-356,000 -predators= sharks & orcas -evidence of some interbreeding between subantarctic and Antarctic fur seals -hunted almost to extinction in the 19th century for their fur -all colonies now protected -growth rates estimated at 13-15%

ALL: common name fur seal Scientific classification Kingdom; Animalia Phylum; Chordata Class; Mammalia Order; Carnivora Clade; Pinnipeds (odoenidae, otariidae and phocidae) -mammals with front & rear flippers Family; otariidae (consists of fur seals and sea lions) Subfamily; Arctocephailinae

-otariidae descended from a common ancestor most closely related to modern bears, arose 15-17 million years ago and rapidly diversified, extinct fur seal genus Thalassoleon, originally land animals that adapted to marine life

" Sexually dimorphic o Males nearly twice the size of females and have thickened necks and pronounced skull crests " Semiaquatic lifestyle; feeding & migrating in water but breeding & resting on land or ice " External ears- pinnae distinguishes them from phocids " Small tail " Smallest seals " Closely related to sea lions " Teeth whiskers and thick fur " Sharp eyesight & keen hearing " Breath air but can stay at sea for weeks at a time " May swim by themselves or in groups " Nearly year-long pregnancy for 1 pup o Pups born in rookeries and dependent on mother until weaned " Fur " Dense underfur compared to sea lions with coarse hair " Surfaces of fore flippers are leathery, with small claws, long & paddle-like, measuring more than ¼ of the body length " Hind flippers large & mark difference from true seals (phocids) o Can be rotated when on land to support body & aid in locomotion o Can "prop up" in standing position o In water use front flippers as oars for propulsion " Otariids highly social o Form large herds during breeding seasons o Maintain "harems" territories of females depending on their size and strength o Period of delayed implantation to ensure pups will be born in a year when breeding grounds are again established " All threatened by entanglement in man-made debris " 16 species of eared seals " 8 southern fur seals " 1 northern fur seal

Southern fur seals: (Antarctic, Galapagos, Guadalupe, Juan Fernandez, New Zealand, South African/Australian, South American, and Subantarctic fur seals) are the most land loving seals of the Family Otariidae spending only about 70% of their life in the water.

Lead section: Fur seal is a common name for any of the nine species of pinnipeds belonging to the Arctocephalinae subfamily in the otiriidae family. Fur seals are members of the pinniped clade because of their characteristic front and rear flippers.

Evolution and Taxonomy: Fur seals and sea lions make up the family otariidae. Along with phocidae and odobodenidae, ottariids are pinnipeds descending from a common ancestor most closely related to modern bears. The name pinniped refers to mammals with front and rear flippers. Otariids arose about 15-17 million years ago in the Miocene, and were originally land mammals that rapidly diversified and adapted to a marine environment, giving rise to the semi-aquatic marine mammals that thrive today. Fur seals and sea lions are closely related and commonly known together as the "eared seals". They are traditionally separated into the subfamilies Arctocephalinae for fur seals, and otariinae for sea lions, primarily distinguished by a thick underfur layer present in fur seals but not sea lions. Fur seals comprise two genera: Callorhinus, and Arctocephalus. Callorhinus is represented by just one species in the northern hemisphere, the Northern fur seal (Callorhinus ursinus), and Arctocephalus is represented by eight species in the southern hemisphere. Recent studies have suggested that Callorhinus ursinus may actually be more closely related to a common sea lion ancestor than the other eight fur seal species (Wynen). The southern fur seals comprising the genus Arctocephalus include: Antarctic fur seals, Galapagos fur seals, Juan Fernandez fur seals, New Zealand fur seals, Brown fur seals, South American fur seals, and Subantarctic fur seals.

Physical Appearance Along with the previously mentioned thick underfur, fur seals are distinguished from sea lions by their smaller body structure, greater sexual dimorphism, smaller prey, and longer foraging trips during the feeding cycle. The physical appearance of fur seals varies with individual species but the main characteristics remain constant. Fur seals are characterized by their external pinnae, dense underfur, vibrissae, and long muscular limbs. They share with other otariids the ability to rotate their rear limbs forward, supporting their body and allowing them to ambulate on land. In water their front limbs, typically measuring about 1/4th their body length, act as oars and can propel them forward for optimal mobility. The surfaces of these long, paddle-like fore limbs are leathery with small claws. Otariids have a dog-like head, sharp, well-developed canines, sharp eyesight and keen hearing. They are extremely sexually dimorphic mammals, with the males often 2 to 5 times the size of the females, with proportionally larger heads, necks and chests. Size ranges from about 1.5 m, 64 kg in the male Galapagos fur seal (also the smallest pinniped) to 2.5m, 180kg in the adult male New Zealand fur seal. Most fur seal pups are born with a black-brown coat that molts at 2-3 months, revealing a brown coat that typically gets darker with age. Some males and females within the same species have significant differences in appearance, further contributing to the sexual dimorphism. Females and juveniles often have a lighter colored coat overall or only on the chest, as seen in South American fur seals. In a Northern fur seal population, the females are typically silvery-gray on the dorsal side and reddish-brown on their ventral side with a light gray patch on their chest. This makes them easily distinguished from the males with their brownish-gray to reddish-brown or black coats.

Habitat Of the fur seal family, eight species are considered southern fur seals, and only one is found in the northern hemisphere. The southern group includes Antarctic, Galapagos, Guadalupe, Juan Fernandez, New Zealand, Brown, South American, and Subantarctic fur seals. They typically spend about 70% of their lives in subpolar, temperate, and equatorial waters. Colonies of fur seals can be seen throughout the Pacific and Southern oceans from south Australia, Africa, and New Zealand, to the coast of Peru and up to California. They are typically non migrating mammals, with the exception of the Northern fur seal which has been known to travel distances up to 10,000 km. Fur seals are often found near isolated islands or peninsulas and can be seen hauling out onto the mainland during winter. Although they are not migratory, they have been observed wandering hundreds of miles from their breeding grounds in times of scarce resources. For example, the Subantarctic fur seal typically resides near temperate islands in the South Atlantic and Indian Oceans north of the Antarctic Polar Front, but juvenile males have been seen wandering as far north as Brazil and South Africa.

Behavior and Ecology

Typically, fur seals gather during the summer in large assemblages at specific beaches or rocky outcrops to give birth and breed. All species are polygynous, meaning dominant males reproduce with more than one female. For most species, total gestation lasts about 11.5 months, including a several-month period of delayed implantation of the embryo. Females typically reach sexual maturity around 3-4 years. The males reach sexual maturity around the same time but do not become territorial or mate until 6-10 years. The breeding season typically begins in November and lasts 2-3 months. The Northern fur seals begin their breeding season as early as June due to their region, climate, and resources. In all cases, the males arrive a couple of weeks early to fight for their territory and groups of females to mate with. They congregate at rocky, isolated breeding grounds and defend their territory through fighting and vocalization. Males typically do not leave their territory for the entirety of the breeding season, fasting and competing until all energy sources are depleted. The Juan Fernandez fur seals deviate from this typical behavior, using aquatic breeding territories not seen in other fur seals. They use rocky sites for breeding but males fight for territory on land and on the shoreline & in the water. Upon arriving to the breeding grounds, females give birth to their pups from the previous season. About a week later, the females will mate again and shortly after begin their feeding cycle. The feeding cycle typically consists of foraging and feeding at sea for about 5 days, then returning to the breeding grounds to nurse the pups for about 2 days. Mothers and pups locate each other using call recognition during nursing period The Juan Fernandez fur seal has a particularly long feeding cycle, with about 12 days of foraging and feeding and 5 days of nursing. Most fur seals continue this cycle for about 9 months until they wean their pup. The exception to this is the Antarctic fur seal, which has a feeding cycle that lasts only 4 months. During foraging trips, most female fur seals travel around 200km from the breeding site, and can dive around 200m depending on food availability. The remainder of the year, fur seals………occasionally by larger sea lions. Fur seals are opportunistic mammals tend to feed and dive in shallow waters at night, when their prey are swimming near the surface. The South American fur seals exhibit a different diet; adults feed almost exclusively on anchovies juveniles feed on demersal fish, most likely due to availability.

Population and Survival The average lifespan of fur seals varies with different species from 13 to 25 years with females typically living longer. Most populations continue to expand as they recover from previous commercial hunting and environmental threats.

References Further Reading

Relevant news or stories regarding fur seals

Notes

Found in both "Sea Lions" and "Fur Seals": plagiarism??

"This division was based on the most prominent common feature shared by the fur seals and absent in the sea lions, namely the dense underfur characteristic of the former. Recent genetic evidence, suggests Callorhinus, the genus of the northern fur seal, is more closely related to some sea lion species than to the other fur seal genus, Arctocephalus.[3]"

Sources

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/mammals/group/fur-seals/#close

https://a-z-animals.com/animals/fur-seal/

Phylogenetic relationships: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1055790301910127