Australian Fur-seal

Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus

Largest of all the fur seal species, the Australian Fur-seal lives in large colonies found on rocky areas from the coast of NSW, down around to Tasmania, Victoria and South Australia. Hunted to the edge of extinction in the 19th century, their numbers are slowly increasing and these fur seals are beginning to use new haul-out sites in New South Wales. Ten years ago there was only one site used, Montague Island, however today there are several haul-out sites on the south coast.

Skilful swimmers, they can dive to at least 150m in search of prey like squid, fish and octopus. A double layer of fur keeps them warm and dry both in the water and on land.

  • Size adult male: 218 - 360kg, length 201 - 227cm
  • Size adult females: 41 - 113kg, length 136 - 171cm
  • Population status: 47 000 - 60 000 and slowly increasing 

Australian Sea-lion

Neophoca cinerea

These rare sea lions live on the beaches and waters along the south western coastline of Australia. They are powerful swimmers who hunt a wide variety of prey including cephalopods, fish, sharks, rock lobsters and sea birds.

Many adult males have an enlarged neck and mane with a cream coloured head and neck. This is why they are called sea-lions. Females are smaller than the males and have paler fur. This single layer of thick fur protects them from the sun, sand and sharp rocks.

They have a longer gestation period than other seals. Females nurse their pups for 15 - 18 months, until the next pup is born.

  • Size adult males: up to 300kg, length 200 - 250cm
  • Size adult females: 61 - 104 kg, length 132 - 181cm
  • Population status: 9 300 - 11 700

Leopard Seal

Hydruga leptoynx

The little known Leopard Seal is one of the most fascinating animals of the Antarctic. They are solitary animals living and breeding on the ice floes of the pack ice. The pack-ice provides a very unpredictable substrate, as the ice floes break up constantly during the summer months, so these seals have a very short breeding season, weaning their pups in about two weeks.

During the summer breeding season in December Leopard Seals are disturbed sparsely throughout the Antarctic pack-ice. Unlike most other seals the male leopard seals don't remain with the female. After her pup is weaned the female has only a short period of time when she will be ready to mate and she has to attract a mate in the vast Antarctic pack-ice. So how do leopard seals overcome this problem? With song! The males sing underwater for up to 3 months and the females sing just when she is ready to mate. The male and female sing a duet which allows the female to select her mate from a bevy of males. Female leopard seals are larger than the males, but the greatest difference is in their head and shoulders. The females have better fighting weaponry than the males.

  • Size adult male: 200 to 455 kg (Average 324 kg), 250 to 320 cm (Average 279 cm)
  • Size adult females: 225 to 600 kg (Average 400 kg), 241 to 338 cm (Average 291 cm)
  • Population status: 200, 000 to 440, 000

New Zealand Fur-seal

Arctocephalus forsteri

New Zealand Fur-seals in Australian waters suffered a severe decline in numbers due to indiscriminate commercial sealing in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. However recent population estimates have determined that their populations are increasing at a rapid rate. These seals are now regularly seen in regions such as Sydney Harbour, where they were only rare visitors last century.

They can be distinguished from the Australian Fur-seal by their darker coat colour, high pitched call (Australian Fur-seals have a deep bark), and relatively long pointed nose. They also move differently on land to Australian Fur-seals. New Zealand Fur-seals ‘hop' with fore-flippers moving together whereas Australian Fur-seals ‘waddle' from side to side. Like other fur-seals, they live in colonies and pups are born between late November and mid January.

  • Size adult males: 120 - 180kg, length 150 - 250cm
  • Size adult females: 35 - 50kg, length 100 -150cm
  • Population status: Australia approximately 35 000, New Zealand estimated population 100 000

Weddell Seal

Leptonychotes weddelli

Weddell Seals have the most southerly distribution of all the seals. They haul out along tide cracks in the Antarctic fast ice where they give birth to pups, avoid attacks from predators and rest. They stay warm on the ice and in the water because they have a thick layer of fat beneath their skin. They are one of the most studied groups of Antarctic seals because they use traditional haul-out sites in easily accessible areas. Interestingly, they have little fear of humans, this may be because there are no natural land predators in their environment.

In the icy Southern Ocean, Weddell Seals use sound to communicate with one another. Males swim through the water using loud trills to advertise and defend their territories. These sounds can be heard almost 30km away and are some of the loudest made by marine mammals. Their underwater repertoire is elaborate and includes up to 45 different vocalisations.

  • Size adult males: up to 550kg, length 2.5m - 2.9m
  • Size adult females: up to 550kg, length 2.6m - 3.3m
  • Population status: greater than 800, 000