A.+gazella

=**Antarctic Fur Seal ( Arctocephalus Gazella) **=

**//Genus//**: Arctocephalus species: Arctocephalus Gazella //**Order:**// Carnivora //**Family:**// Otariidae
 * //Class//**: Mammalia

__//**Endangered species act**//__
The species is protected by the Australian and South African governments and by the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals. It was heavily hunted in the 18th and 19th century for its pelt by United States and United Kingdom sealers. It was regarded as commercially, even completely extinct by the early twentieth century.

__//**Habitat**//__
Arctocephalus gazella or the antarctic fur seal resides in Antarctic waters. They spend most of their lives in the open ocean. The only time they visit land is to breed, molt, or rest.

__//**Location of ecosystem**//__
Antarctic Fur Seal is mainly found in Antarctic waters. The southern ocean is located south of 60 degrees south lattitude.The temperature of the southern ocean is −2 to 10 C (28 to 50 F ). The salinity of the ocean ranges from 33.5 to 34.5.

__**//Physical Habitat features//**__
Since the antarctic fur seal spends most of its time in the open ocean there are not many physical features except for currents and the geological processes of the ocean. Although when they do return to land to breed or molt they usually gather on rocky coastlines, sandy and gravel beaches, as well as caves. The temperature of the water that they reside in is −2 to 10 C or (28 to 50 F ). The salinity of their habitat ranges from 33.5 to 34.5.

__**//Migration patterns//**__
There are no migration patterns of the antarctic fur seal. The only place that it travels is to the rocky sandy beaches to molt and breed.

__//**Population estimates**//__
In 1990, the population size of antarctic fur seals was estimated at 1.5 million, but more recent estimates put the population at over 4 million.

//__**Survival trends**__//
Since the Antarctic fur seal was listed as an Appendix II species un the CITES the population has been increasing steadily.

__//**Appearance**//__
The antarctic fur seal has a short and broad snout compared to others in its family. Adult males appear to be dark brown in color as apposed to females and juveniles which tend to be grey with a light underside. When they are born the pups are dark brown nearly black. Males are bigger than females, they grow up to 2 m (6.5 ft) long and weigh anywhere from 91 kg (200 lb) to 209 kg (460 lb). The females may be smaller than the males but they tend to live longer. Females usually live up to 25 years and males usually live for about 15 years.

//__**Reproduction**__//
Seals only return to their birthplace to breed for their first time. They start to breed in late October. The bulls all congregate at rookeries to claim territories. Then they quarrel usually some biting takes place. The cows then arrive in November. They pick a bulls territory and give birth to one single pup that was conceived the previous year. One bull could have up to sixteen pups in his territory. After nursing the pup for a week to ten days the bull and the cow mate. The females then feeds at sea for about six days. Once the cow returns she nurses her pup for three or more days. This periodic foraging and nursing last for about four months. In April, every seal leaves for the sea. They all go their separate ways.



__//**Anatomy and physiology**//__

 * Short and broad snout
 * Wide hind flippers
 * Thick short hair
 * Thick neck
 * Closable ears with no external flap
 * Dark eyes
 * Closable nostrils
 * Sensory whiskers
 * Hair fore flippers with five blunt claws
 * Pointed teeth in front of mouth

//__**Food chain/web**__//
Antarctic fur seals feed primarily on krill, fish, and squid. Sometimes birds will be eaten but only out of the breeding season. The primary predators of the antarctic fur seal include the Orca (killer whale), and leopard seals.



//__**Economic importance**__//
The antarctic fur seal is no longer of economic importance. Although it is no longer economically important in the the 18th and 19th century it was heavily hunted for its fur.

//__**Threats**__//
There is no real threat to the survival of the antarctic fur seal. In the early twentieth century it was almost considered extinct. But do to the protection and conservation of the species there is no more threat of it becoming completely extinct.

//__**Conservation**__//
The species is protected by the Convection for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals (CCAS). In addition the seal is also listed as an Appendix II species under CITES.

//__**Solutions**__//
One solution would be simply to stop hunting these seals for their fur.

My second solution would to sstrghnthen our effore to fight global warming. If all the ice melts than these animals are doomed.

My third and final solution would be to cut down on pollution. Things like garbage end up in oceans and eventually make it onto beaches where animals like the antarctic fur seal breed. If we can stop pollution than breeding will improve because the beaches wont be littered with trash.