The brown fur seal, also known as the Afro-Australian Fur Seal, is a marine mammal found along the coasts of southern Africa and Australia. It is the largest and most robust fur seal species.
Brown fur seals have a thick layer of brown fur and a strong, streamlined body adapted for swimming. They feed primarily on fish, squid, and crustaceans, diving deep to hunt.
These marine mammals live in large colonies and are known for their loud, social behavior. Despite past threats from hunting, their populations have largely recovered due to protection.
Read on to discover more about the brown fur seal…
Page Index
Brown Fur Seal Facts At A Glance
- Scientific Name: Arctocephalus pusillus
- Subspecies: 2 – Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus (Cape fur seal – southern Africa); Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus (Australian fur seal – southern Australia)
- Order: Carnivora
- Class: Mammalia
- Family: Otariidae
- Genus: Arctocephalus
- Male Weight: 200–350 kg (440–770 lb)
- Female Weight: 40–110 kg (88–243 lb)
- Male Length: 2.0–2.5 m (6.6–8.2 ft)
- Female Length: 1.2–1.8 m (3.9–5.9 ft)
- Where Found: Coastal regions of southern Africa and southern Australia, including Tasmania
- Typical Habitat: Rocky shores, islands, and beaches; prefers exposed coastal areas for breeding and haul-outs
- Diet: Carnivorous – feeds mainly on fish, squid, and crustaceans; opportunistic and skilled hunters, often diving up to 200 meters
- Conservation Status: Least Concern
You can see more ocean animals on this page: Ocean Animals List with Pictures & Facts
Ocean Conservation Namibia
You may have seen brown fur seals being rescued from entanglements and marine debris on the popular Ocean Conservation Namibia YouTube channel. This non-profit organization, founded in 2020, has documented numerous seal rescues to raise awareness about ocean pollution’s impact on marine life. You can see one of their videos below:
Physical Description
The brown fur seal has a strong, muscular body covered in thick, brown to grayish-brown fur. Males are much larger than females and have a thick neck with a mane of coarse hair. They have long, pointed snouts, large eyes, and visible external ears. Their front flippers are long and powerful, helping them swim efficiently, while their hind flippers can rotate forward, allowing them to move well on land.
Brown Fur Seal Adaptations
- Streamlined body for efficient, fast swimming
- Powerful front flippers for propulsion in the water
- Rotatable hind flippers for agile movement on land (in comparison to true seals)
- Thick fur coat with a dense underlayer for insulation
- Blubber layer to retain body heat and store energy
- Large, round eyes adapted for low-light underwater vision
- Nictitating membrane – a transparent, third eyelid to shield eyes from salt and debris
- Ability to close nostrils and ears to keep water out while diving
- Slowed heart rate during dives to conserve oxygen and stay underwater longer
Fur Seals – Family & Related Species
The brown fur seal is one of nine species of fur seals, all of which are members of the family Otariidae. This family is also known as the eared seal family, and is also home to sea lions.
Eared seals have external ears and can walk on land using their flippers. They differ from true seals (family Phocidae), which don’t have visible ears and move awkwardly on land.
Eared seals, true seals, and the walrus (which belongs to a family all of its own, Odobenidae) all belong to a larger group called pinnipeds, which are marine mammals adapted for life both in water and on land.
Are Fur Seals Sea Lions?
Fur seals are not sea lions, but they are related. Fur seals and sea lions are both eared seals, but fur seals have thicker fur and longer hind flippers, while sea lions are generally larger and more vocal with a bulkier build.
Brown Fur Seal Distribution & Habitat
The brown fur seal is found along the coastlines of southern Africa and southern Australia, (including Tasmania).
It typically lives in rocky coastal areas, offshore islands, and beaches, where it comes ashore to rest, breed, and care for its young. The seals prefer places that are exposed to the open ocean, with easy access to deep waters for hunting their prey.
Brown Fur Seal Life-Cycle & Lifespan
The life-cycle of a brown fur seal begins when a pup is born after an almost year-long gestation period (this includes a 3-4 month delayed implantation of the embryo).
Pups are usually born during the summer breeding season, with each female giving birth to a single pup. After birth, the mother nurses the pup for about 4 to 12 months, although she may begin mating again just days after giving birth.
During the breeding season, males compete fiercely for territory and mating rights, with successful males attracting a group of females known as a “harem”. Males do not help raise the pups.
As the pups grow, they learn to swim and hunt, becoming independent around one year old. Brown fur seals reach sexual maturity at around 4–6 years of age. In the wild, they can live up to 20–25 years.
Throughout their lives, brown fur seals spend most of their time at sea, coming ashore mainly to breed and rest. Females and pups regularly “haul out” to rest on beaches.
Hunting And Diet
The brown fur seal is a skilled and agile hunter that catches its prey while swimming and diving in the ocean. It typically hunts alone, using its excellent vision and quick movements to chase and capture food underwater.
The marine mammal’s diet mainly consists of fish, squid, and crabs. They are opportunistic feeders, meaning they eat whatever is most available in their environment. Occasionally, they may also scavenge or eat seabirds.
Diving Abilities
Brown fur seals can dive to depths of around 200 meters (656 feet) and stay submerged for up to around 7.5 minutes.
Differences Between Cape fur seal and Australian Fur Seal
The two subspecies of the brown fur seal—the Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus) and the Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus)—differ mainly in their geographic range; there is very little difference in physical appearance between the subspecies. The Cape fur seal tends to be slightly larger than its Australian cousin, and hunts at shallower depths.
The Cape fur seal is found along the coasts of Namibia and South Africa, while the Australian fur seal lives along the southeastern coast of Australia, including Victoria, Tasmania, and nearby islands.
Brown Fur Seal Predators, Threats And Conservation Status
The brown fur seal faces several natural and human-related threats. In the wild, natural predators such as great white sharks, orcas, and occasionally leopard seals prey on them, especially young or inexperienced individuals. On land, pups can be taken by jackals, hyenas and even lions.
Human-related threats include fishing nets and gear, where seals can become accidentally entangled and drown. Overfishing also reduces the availability of their food sources. In some areas, they are still hunted or culled, particularly when seen as competition with fisheries. Pollution, such as oil spills, plastics, and chemical runoff, can harm the seals’ health and habitats.
Despite these threats, the brown fur seal has a population of just over one million adult individuals, and the species is currently (April 2025) rated Least Concern.
Discover More With Active Wild
You can find out more about seals on the following pages:
