South American Fur Seal

Photo: simben · CC BY-NC-ND

South American fur seals are more agile and shy than their sea lion cousins, darting through the kelp forest at Lagunillas at speed and using the dense fronds as cover during hunting runs. They are smaller and sleeker than sea lions, with a more pointed muzzle, and typically seen in groups of 2 to 8 individuals making rapid passes through the reef before surfacing to breathe. Their presence at Lagunillas is tied to the year-round availability of small reef fish in the kelp, and they become bolder towards divers who remain stationary and non-threatening.