Seals, octopuses, jellyfish and more

Juan Fernández fur seal

Arctocephalus philippii

Endemic fur seals of Chile's Juan Fernández Islands. Watch quietly from a legal distance, never touch, feed or chase, and sightings are never guaranteed.

Least ConcernIn 3 Atlas countries

Least Concern (IUCN, 2015) means it is not at high risk of extinction worldwide today.

Juan Fernandez fur seal swimming just below the surface — Photo: Erasmo Macaya Horta, iNaturalist, CC BY

Juan Fernandez fur seal with pup on a sandy beach — Photo: Flavien Saboureau, iNaturalist, CC BY

Juan Fernandez fur seal climbing onto a rock in surf — Photo: Erasmo Macaya Horta, iNaturalist, CC BY

Juan Fernandez fur seals resting on mossy rocks — Photo: Erasmo Macaya Horta, iNaturalist, CC BY

Juan Fernandez fur seal floating at the sea surface — Photo: Álvaro Parra Valdivia, iNaturalist, CC BY

Photos show the species, not always the places on this page.

Length

Males about 2 to 2.1 m (6.6 to 6.9 ft); females about 1.4 to 1.5 m (4.6 to 4.9 ft)

Weight

Males about 140 to 159 kg (309 to 350 lb); females about 48 to 50 kg (106 to 110 lb)

Next to a person

A bull can be about as long as a tall adult and weigh about as much as two people. A female is much smaller and lighter.

What it eats

Mostly small deep-water lanternfish and squid, including Humboldt squid, plus some other fish.

Around people

Potentially dangerous, respect

How it lives

This fur seal breeds only on the Juan Fernández Islands off Chile. It rests and breeds on rocky coasts, boulder beaches and in sea caves. Mothers make some of the longest feeding trips of any fur seal or sea lion, about 12 days at sea on average. It was hunted almost to extinction in the past, but its numbers have since made a major recovery.

Where it goes

It is not a long-distance migrant. It stays around its home islands but makes long feeding trips offshore; tracked females travelled on average about 336 km per trip. Breeding is mainly from mid-November to late January.

We only draw a journey on the map when scientists have tracked it or clearly documented it. For this animal we have not found one yet.

Populations

It breeds only in the Juan Fernández Archipelago, on Robinson Crusoe, Santa Clara and Alejandro Selkirk, where more than half of the population lives. Worldwide, the IUCN Red List lists this seal as Least Concern (2025). Chile's own national classification lists it as Vulnerable (VU D2). These are two separate assessments at different scales.

Meet it respectfully

This is a protected marine mammal. In Chile, national rules ask boats to stay at least 50 m from fur seals and sea lions, and to move back to 100 m if the animals seem disturbed. Never chase, touch, feed or crowd them, and give mothers and pups extra space. Let the seal decide how near it comes, and move away if it seems restless.

Fun fact

Tap the bulb to light it up.

Where you may meet it

Juan Fernández fur seal in the Ocean Atlas

Places we have researched where this animal is recorded. It is never guaranteed, and some places are for watching from the boat only.

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Sources for this page

Facts checked 26 September 2026. Photos: Unsplash licence, or Creative Commons as shown on each photo.

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