# Northern Fur Seal (*Callorhinus ursinus*) Northern Fur Seals are playful and friendly animals. They love to swim and can often be seen basking on rocks in the sun. - **Category:** [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mammal) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 2/5 · Low - **Habitat:** Open ocean and rocky shorelines - **Also known as:** Alaska Fur Seal, Pacific Fur Seal ![Northern Fur Seal](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771424543/objects/4520.jpg) ## Appearance The Northern Fur Seal has a sleek body covered in a very dense, dark brown to black fur, often with a paler chest. Males are much larger and possess a thick, shaggy mane around their neck. They are visually distinct from 'true' seals by having small, visible external ear flaps and powerful, rotating hind flippers. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Chordata - **Class:** Mammalia - **Order:** Carnivora - **Family:** Otariidae - **Genus:** Callorhinus ## Interesting facts - Newborn pups weigh just 5-6 kg, but grow super fast! - Their whiskers are super sensitive, helping them find prey in the dark! - These amazing seals can turn their back flippers forward to walk on land! - They spend 80% of their life at sea, rarely coming to land! ## Special abilities - **Super Swimmer:** Northern Fur Seals can swim incredibly fast and gracefully using their large, paddle-like front flippers. - **Deep Diver:** Northern Fur Seals can dive over 200 meters deep to hunt for food because of their ability to hold their breath. - **Built-in Warmth:** Northern Fur Seals have incredibly thick, soft fur that traps air, keeping them warm in icy ocean waters. - **Land Walker:** Northern Fur Seals can turn their hind flippers forward, which helps them walk and climb on rocky land. ## Measurements & details - **Length:** 140-210 cm - **Weight:** 40-270 kg - **Lifespan:** 20-25 years - **Speed:** 27 km/h - **Litter Size:** 1 - **Gestation:** 350-365 days ## Diet & Feeding These agile hunters love to eat fish and squid, diving deep to find their meals in the ocean. - **Primary Foods:** Alaska Pollock, Pacific Herring, Capelin, Squid, Pacific Lamprey - **Foraging Method:** Pursuit ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** [Orca](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orca) (*Orcinus orca*) — Apex predators that hunt seals. - **Eats:** [Arctic Fox](https://www.snappit.app/explore/arctic-fox) (*Vulpes lagopus*) — Preys on pups on breeding islands. - **Eaten by:** Alaska Pollock (*Gadus chalcogrammus*) — A major food source for adult seals. - **Eaten by:** Japanese Flying Squid (*Todarodes pacificus*) — An important prey item for seals. ## Traits - [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats. - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Whiskered](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/whiskered): Possessing prominent sensory hairs or vibrissae, often around the snout. - [Social](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/social): Social animals live in organized groups, cooperating for survival benefits such as foraging, defense, and raising offspring. - [Piscivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/piscivorous): Piscivorous organisms are animals that primarily subsist on a diet of fish. - [Coastal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/coastal): Coastal habitats are dynamic environments located along the interface between land and sea, influenced by tides, waves, and saltwater. - [Keystone Species](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/keystone-species): Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment. - [Aquatic](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/aquatic): Aquatic habitats encompass environments where organisms live predominantly in water, including oceans, rivers, lakes, and wetlands. ## Collections - [Mammals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/mammals) ## Safety **Danger:** 2/5 · Low While Northern Fur Seals are generally not dangerous, it's best to admire them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Northern Fur Seal? Compare ears, muzzle, tail, feet and coat markings. Size is hard to judge without something nearby for scale, and young mammals may not have adult coloring yet. Mammal Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How long is Northern Fur Seal? 140-210 cm ### How much does Northern Fur Seal weigh? 40-270 kg ### How long does Northern Fur Seal live? 20-25 years ### How fast can Northern Fur Seal move? 27 km/h ### What does Northern Fur Seal eat? These agile hunters love to eat fish and squid, diving deep to find their meals in the ocean. ### Where is Northern Fur Seal usually found? Open ocean and rocky shorelines ### How does Northern Fur Seal hunt? Pursuit ## Where to spot - [Seattle Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seattle-aquarium-washington) — Washington, US · Zoo - [Mystic Aquarium & Institute for Exploration](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mystic-aquarium-and-institute-for-exploration) — Connecticut, US · Aquarium - [Seattle Aquarium](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/seattle-aquarium) — Washington, US · Aquarium - [The Marine Mammal Center](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/the-marine-mammal-center) — California, US · Zoo [View all places to see Northern Fur Seal](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/northern-fur-seal) ## More Mammals - [Eastern Fox Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-fox-squirrel) (*Sciurus niger*) - [Eastern Cottontail](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-cottontail) (*Sylvilagus floridanus*) - [Eastern Chipmunk](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-chipmunk) (*Tamias striatus*) - [California Ground Squirrel](https://www.snappit.app/explore/california-ground-squirrel) (*Otospermophilus beecheyi*) --- Source: [Northern Fur Seal: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/northern-fur-seal)