Guadalupe fur seal

mammal

Also known as: Arctocephalus townsendi

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June 29, 2026

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The Guadalupe fur seal (Arctocephalus townsendi) is a type of fur seal, which is a eared seal valued for its fur. This particular species was once common along the coasts of California and Mexico but is now found in a small, protected area. Guadalupe fur seals are part of the Arctocephalus genus, which includes eight species found in the Southern Hemisphere, with the Guadalupe fur seal being an exception, inhabiting Guadalupe Island off the coast of Baja California. These seals are typically gray to brown or black with chestnut-colored underfur.12

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fur seal
…except for a herd of Guadalupe fur seals (A. townsendi) on Guadalupe Island off the northwest coast of Baja California. Southern fur seals are gray to brown or black in colour with chestnut-coloured underfur. Length averages about 1.2–1.8 metres (4–6 feet), but the South African, or Cape, fur seal (A.…
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…except for a herd of Guadalupe fur seals (A. townsendi) on Guadalupe Island off the northwest coast of Baja California. Southern fur seals are gray to brown or black in colour with chestnut-coloured underfur. Length averages about 1.2–1.8 metres (4–6 feet), but the South African, or Cape, fur seal (A.…
Read More