Southern fur seals

Southern fur seals
	New Zealand fur seals
Systematics
Superordinate :	Laurasiatheria
Order :	Predators (Carnivora)
Subordination :	Canine (Caniformia)
without rank:	Seals (Pinnipedia)
Family :	Ear seals (Otariidae)
Genre :	Southern fur seals
Scientific name
	Arctocephalus
	E. Geoffroy & F. Cuvier , 1826

The southern fur seals ( Arctocephalus ) are a genus of ear seals . The eight species are very similar to one another and can be distinguished from one another by their different sizes. They have a thick, woolly fur in common with the northern fur seal, but they are apparently not as closely related to them as to the sea lions .

features

The color of the southern fur seals is mostly light brown. Males also have a black neck mane. During the breeding season, fur seals form large colonies in which a male maintains a harem of several females. Rival males fight for the best spots on the coasts, during which younger and weaker males are pushed to the edge of the colonies.

species

Eight species are distinguished within the southern fur seals:

Guadalupe fur seal ( A. townsendi )
Juan Fernández fur seal ( A. philippii )
Galápagos fur seal ( A. galapagoensis )
South American fur seal ( A. australis )
Sub-Antarctic fur seal ( A. tropicalis )
Antarctic fur seal ( A. gazella )
New Zealand fur seal ( A. forsteri )
South African fur seal ( A. pusillus )

The distribution areas of six of the eight species are found on the southern coasts of South America, Africa, Australia, New Zealand and islands in their vicinity. The Guadalupe fur seals and Galápagos fur seals live on and around the islands of the same name.

Danger

All eight species are in the endangered species Red List of the World Conservation Union IUCN .

The Galápagos Fur Seal ( Arctocephalus galapagoensis ) falls under the risk category endangered ( Endangered ).
The Guadalupe fur seal ( Arctocephalus townsendi ) and the Juan Fernández fur seal ( Arctocephalus philippii ) are on the alert list ( Near Threatened ).
The remaining five species are not considered to be endangered ( Least Concern ).

protection

To protect the endangered species of this genus from aggravating the situation, some protective measures have been adopted in the form of multinational conventions. These agreements are subsequently incorporated into national laws and regulations.

New Zealand fur seals before mating

In the Bonn Convention CMS, a convention for the conservation of migratory animal species, the species South American fur seal ( Arctocephalus australis ) is considered in Appendix II. Accordingly, it is viewed as a species that international measures must be taken to preserve.

The trade in the Guadalupe fur seal ( Arctocephalus townsendi ) is prohibited as a directly threatened species in accordance with Appendix I under the Washington Convention on the Protection of Species ( CITES ). Worldwide trade in all other species of this genus according to Appendix II is only permitted to a limited extent.

The European Union with the EU Species Protection Ordinance 338/97 Appendix A places the Guadalupe fur seal ( A. townsendi ) and additionally the Juan Fernández fur seal ( A. philippii ) among the species threatened by trade worldwide. They are subject to the trade ban. All other species are listed in Appendix B, which lists species endangered by trade in certain countries. Restricted trading opportunities also apply to these at the European level. In addition, this EU regulation has direct influence on all EU member states.

In the Federal Nature Conservation Act, the Federal Republic of Germany identifies the two species, the Juan Fernández fur seal ( A. philippii ) and the Guadalupe fur seal ( A. townsendi ), which are subject to a trade ban, as strictly protected. The other species are designated as particularly protected.

Individual evidence

↑ Arctocephalus galapagoensis in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2013. Posted by: Aurioles, D. & Trillmich, F. (IUCN SSC Pinniped Specialist Group), 2008. Accessed February 12, 2014.
↑ Arctocephalus townsendi in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2013. Posted by: Aurioles, D. & Trillmich, F. (IUCN SSC Pinniped Specialist Group), 2008. Accessed February 12, 2014.
↑ Arctocephalus philippii in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2013. Posted by: Aurioles, D. & Trillmich, F. (IUCN SSC Pinniped Specialist Group), 2008. Accessed February 12, 2014.
↑ Arctocephalus australis , Arctocephalus forsteri , Arctocephalus gazella , Arctocephalus pusillus and Arctocephalus tropicalis in the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN 2013. Accessed February 12, 2014.

swell

The CITES Appendices. Retrieved on October 16, 2012 (English, The Appendixes of the Washington Convention on Species Protection, CITES).
Regulation (EC) 407/2009 amending the annexes in Regulation (EC) No. 338/97. (PDF file 5.19 KB) In: Version from May 19, 2009. Council of the EU, accessed on February 3, 2010 .
WISIA Tracing Service for Endangered Species. In: WISIA Online. German Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, accessed on January 8, 2010 .

Web links

Commons : Arctocephalus - collection of images, videos and audio files

[1] Arctocephalus galapagoensis in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2013. Posted by: Aurioles, D. & Trillmich, F. (IUCN SSC Pinniped Specialist Group), 2008. Accessed February 12, 2014.

[2] Arctocephalus townsendi in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2013. Posted by: Aurioles, D. & Trillmich, F. (IUCN SSC Pinniped Specialist Group), 2008. Accessed February 12, 2014.

[3] Arctocephalus philippii in the endangered Red List species the IUCN 2013. Posted by: Aurioles, D. & Trillmich, F. (IUCN SSC Pinniped Specialist Group), 2008. Accessed February 12, 2014.

[4] Arctocephalus australis , Arctocephalus forsteri , Arctocephalus gazella , Arctocephalus pusillus and Arctocephalus tropicalis in the Red List of Threatened Species of the IUCN 2013. Accessed February 12, 2014.