Northern Fur Seal

Conservation

Scientific Classification

Order	Carnivora
Clade	Pinnipedia
Family	Otariidae
Genus	Callorhinus
Binomial name	Callorhinus ursinus

Range Map

Description

The Northern fur seal is a member of the Otariidae family. They are the largest member of the subfamily Arctocephalinae and the only living member of the genus Callordhinus.

Male Northern fur seals have a black or gray thick fur, with a mane of yellowish or silver-gray long guard hairs from the shoulders up to the neck. They have an underfur, which is more creamy colored. Females are silver-gray or charcoal on top, with their sides, underside, and chest are tan or cream.

Males are much larger than females, with a weight of up to 270 kg. Males can measure up to 2.1 meters. Females are smaller, weighing up to 50 kg, with a length of 1.5 meters.  

Northern fur seals are excellent swimmers, using their forelimbs to propel themselves forward. They use different stroke patterns for different dive patterns.

Northern fur seals can be found along the west coast of the United States and Canada, from California up to Alaska.