Marine Guide TrainingMarine Guide TrainingMarine Guide TrainingMarine Guide Training
  • Home
  • Training
    • L1 – Certified Whale Champion Course
    • L2 – Certified Marine Guide Course
    • L3 – Senior Marine Guide Course
  • Specialties
    • Whales
    • Dolphins
    • Other Marine Species
  • Guides
    • Certified Whale Champion – Level 1
    • WCA Certified Marine Guides – Level 2
    • Senior Marine Guides – Level 3
  • Guide Jobs
    • Job Listings
    • Submit a Job
  • Volunteer
  • Contact

New Zealand Fur Seal

New Zealand Fur Seal
Arctocephalus forsteri
Arctocephalus forsteri (common names include the Australasian fur seal, South Australian fur seal, New Zealand fur seal, Antipodean fur seal, or long-nosed fur seal) is a species of fur seal found mainly around southern Australia and New Zealand.
New Zealand Fur Seal can be found across New Zeland and lower parts of Australia.

Kekeno are the most common seals in New Zealand and their population is growing.

Population: the last total population estimate was 200,000 in 2001. It will be higher now, but unknown by how much. Their numbers are increasing along all the coastline.

Threat status: least concern (population trend: increasing).

Found on: rocky shores throughout mainland New Zealand, the Chatham Islands, and the subantarctic islands, as well as parts of Australia.

Seals are very good swimmers and weaned pups will sometimes travel great distances. On land seals have been found in unusual places such as backyards, drains and streets.

Despite these odd appearances, seals are best left alone with no human intervention.

Features

Fur seals and sea lions are distinguished from other seals by their external ear flaps and hind flippers which rotate forward, allowing them to move quickly on land.

New Zealand fur seals can be distinguished from sea lions by their pointy nose and smaller size. In New Zealand, fur seals also tend to be found on rocky shorelines, whereas sea lions prefer sandy beaches.

This pointy-nosed seal has long pale whiskers and a body covered with two layers of fur. Their coat is dark grey-brown on the back, and lighter below; when wet, kekeno look almost black. In some animals the longer upper hairs have white tips which give the animal a silvery appearance.

Adult females: maximum length 1.5 m, weight 30-50 kg.
Adult males: maximum length 2.5 m, weight 90-150 kg.

Diet and foraging

The New Zealand fur seal/kekeno feed mainly on squid and small mid-water fish but also take larger species such as conger eels, barracuda, jack mackerel and hoki, mostly off the continental shelf.

They dive deeper and longer than any other fur seal. Female fur seals on the West Coast are known to (occasionally) dive deeper than 238 m, and for as long as 11 minutes.

 

New Zealand fur seals’ dive patterns reflect the movement patterns of their prey

New Zealand fur seals’ prey stays very deep underwater during the day and then come closer to the surface at night. Fur seals feed almost exclusively at night when prey is closer to the surface, as deep as 163 m during summer.

Their summer foraging is concentrated over the continental shelf, or near the slope. They will dive continuously from sundown to sunrise.

In autumn and winter, they dive much deeper, with many dives greater than 100 m. At least some females dive deeper than 240 m, and from satellite tracking, they may forage up to 200 km beyond the continental slope in water deeper than 1000 m

Specialties

  • Whales
  • Dolphins
  • Other Marine Species

Want to learn more about the New Zealand Fur Seal ?

BOOK A COURSE

Still not convinced? Watch our free sample training video:

Address
No 1 Wellington Street, Picton 7220
New Zealand

Phone
Course Director Paul 0064 (0) 297770088
Call NZ Time between 0800 – 1800

Contact Us »

Training

  • Certified Whale Champion Course
  • Certified Marine Guide Course
  • Senior Marine Guide Course

Marine Guides

  • Certified Whale Champions – Level 1
  • WCA Certified Marine Guides – Level 2
  • Senior Marine Guides – Level 3

Specialties

  • Whales
  • Dolphins
  • Other Marine Species
  • Home
  • Training
  • Specialties
  • Guides
  • Guide Jobs
  • Volunteer
  • Contact
Copyright 2023 | Privacy | Sitemap
  • Home
  • Training
    • Certified Whale Champion Course
    • Certified Marine Guide Course
    • Senior Marine Guide Course
  • Specialties
    • Whales
    • Dolphins
    • Other Marine Species
  • Guides
    • Certified Whale Champion – Level 1
    • WCA Certified Marine Guides – Level 2
    • Senior Marine Guides – Level 3
  • WCA Guide Jobs
    • Submit a Job
    • Job Dashboard
  • Volunteer Internship
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • SUPERCHARGE YOUR CAREER AND BECOME A FULLY CERTIFIED MARINE GUIDE
Marine Guide Training