Galapagos Fur Seal
From Free net encyclopedia
{{Taxobox | color = pink | name = Galapagos Fur Seal | status = Conservation status: Vulnerable | regnum = Animalia | phylum = Chordata | classis = Mammalia | ordo = Carnivora | subordo = Pinnipedia | familia = Otariidae | subfamilia = Arctocephalinae | genus = Arctocephalus | species = A. galapagoensis | binomial = Arctocephalus galapagoensis | binomial_authority = Heller, 1904 }}
The Galapagos Fur Seal (Arctocephalus galapagoensis) is the smallest of all the pinnipeds. It breeds on the Galapagos Islands in the eastern Pacific - making it the only fur seal to breed in tropical waters.
The number of Galapagos Fur Seals successfully bred in a year is very sensitive to El Niño weather events. In the El Nino summers of 1982-1983 and 1997-1998 greatly increased infant mortality. Increased water temperature decreases the abudance of prey during these summers.
References
- {{ cite book
| title = National Audubon Society Guide to Marine Mammals of the World | author = Randall R. Reeves, Brent S. Stewart, Phillip J. Clapham and James A. Powell | publisher = Alfred A. Knopf, Inc | year = 2002 | id = ISBN 0375411410 }}Template:Mammal-stub