Antarctic Fur Seal: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Sea Mammals · day 1 of 7

Five facts

1. Its scientific name, gazella, probably honours a ship: the German SMS Gazelle, the first to collect these seals, in the Kerguelen Islands.
2. Talk about a moustache: adults, especially males, have whiskers up to 35 to 50 cm long.
3. One island is home to almost everyone: South Georgia, in the South Atlantic, holds about 95% of all Antarctic fur seals.
4. Babies arrive almost all at once: across the species, 90% of pups are born within the same 10 days.
5. It is a night diver. Around South Georgia, nursing mothers depend on tiny shrimp-like krill to feed their pups.

The quiz

1. Where does the name gazella probably come from?

• A fast antelope
• A German ship (correct)
• A famous explorer
• A mountain on Kerguelen

It is thought to come from SMS Gazelle, the ship that first collected the species.

2. How long can an adult's whiskers grow?

• 1 to 2 cm
• 5 cm
• 35 to 50 cm (correct)
• 2 m

Adult whiskers, especially on males, reach 35 to 50 cm.

3. Which island holds about 95% of all Antarctic fur seals?

• South Georgia (correct)
• Bouvet Island
• Macquarie Island
• Heard Island

South Georgia holds roughly 95% of the world population.

4. How many pups are born within the same 10-day window?

• Very few
• About a quarter
• About half
• 90% (correct)

Births are so in step that 90% happen within 10 days.

5. What do nursing mothers near South Georgia depend on?

• Seaweed
• Krill (correct)
• Seabird eggs
• Jellyfish

They rely on krill during the breeding season.

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