Cape and Australian Fur Seals: Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus and A. p. doriferus

The Cape fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus and the Australian fur seal A. p. doriferus are the two recognized subspecies of A. pusillus (family Otariidae, subfamily Arctocephelinae). Their subspecific status is based on separate geographic ranges and a difference in one cranial character, but the two subspecies are otherwise identical in anatomy and behavior. Molecular studies have indicated that A. pusillus aligns more closely with sea lion species (subfamily Otariinae), with which they share several morphological and behavioral commonalities than with other fur seal species. Differences in foraging behavior between the subspecies and in their population trajectories are likely related to differences in local productivity. Bass Strait where the bulk of the Australian fur seal population occurs is dominated by warm-nutrient impoverished waters and relatively low productivity, whereas the Benguela current upwelling system, which largely coincides with the range of the Cape fur seal is characterized by high productivity.