Intertidal Life
Sea Turtles
Land Iguanas
Marine Iguanas
Sea Lions
Fur Seals
Birds
Like the sea lion, the fur seal is not a "true seal" but of the order Otaridae, the eared seals, which have stronger front flippers used both for swimming and to support themselves on land. Though less frequently seen than the sea lion, the Galapagos fur seal (Arctocephalus galapagoensis) has a similar total population, but its habitat is more remote, difficult to reach and -- not incidentally -- shadier, as they as less tolerant of the heat. Their nearest relative is the southern fur seal (A. australis) found in the cooler waters around Cape Horn and some Antarctic islands.
Aside from habitat, fur seals and sea lions can be told apart in several ways: the fur seal is quite a bit smaller, with males topping out at 140 pounds; it has a bear-shaped head (arcto- cephalus, as the name implies), larger front flippers, more evident ears, and bigger eyes. Most important is the coat -- the thick dense coat of the fur seal was so desirable to 19th century furriers that the species was driven to the brink of extinction. They have staged a comeback, and on Genovesa and Santiago healthy populations are found.
Their diet is primarily squid and fish, and they are night hunters
for the most part. Some research has shown they refrain from
hunting during periods of the full moon, perhaps because the increased
light makes them more visible to sharks, their primary predator.
