Galapagos fur seals (Arctocephalus galapagoensis) inhabit the area of the Galapagos Archipelago off the west coast of South America. They breed on Isabela and Fernandina Islands in the west, and Pinta, Marchena, Genovesa and Wolf in the north, near the areas of oceanic upwelling. Because of the hot temperature, |
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Galapagos fur seals prefer rocky shores with boulders, ledges
and spaces between boulders where they can escape from the sun.
Like the sea lion, the
Galapagos fur seal is smaller than its nearest relatives.
Visitors often find them difficult to distinguish from sea
lions, but there are many minor differences that aid
identification. They are smaller in overall size and the head is
broader and shorter. The nose is almost pointed. The head
resembles that of a bear; hence, their generic name; Arcto =
bear, -cephalus = head. Their ears stick out more and the front
flippers are relatively larger .
The
eyes are also bigger giving them a sad expression. Their voices
are different from those of the sea lions, being hoarse and more
guttural, but they are less often used. The major difference is
in their coat.
This is much thicker and denser in the fur seal,
consisting of two layers: an outer one off long hairs and an
inner one of short dense fur. This coat is a magnificent
insulator, enabling their relatives to live in near-freezing
water, but it is somewhat of a liability in the Galapagos
because of the risk of overheating. Their coat was much prized
by furriers, and during the 1800s tens of thousands were taken. |
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