Arctocephalus forsteri                   Carnivore          Diurnal         Status: Least concern

There are populations of this seal around New Zealand’s South Island, where it is called kekeno by the Maori, and along the Southwest Australian coast and in Tasmania, where it is known as the Australian or Southern fur seal. The two are classed as a single species, despite some genetic disparity.

The fur seal can dive deeper and longer (up to 15 minutes and to 200 meters deep) than any other seal. Another distinguishing point is their unique ability to rotate their hind flippers forward. Fur seals were nearly hunted to extinction through the early twentieth century, but today they are protected by law.

Photo courtesy of Sid Mosdell.