Seals
Macquarie Island is home to the species of mammal called seals. Some of the most common seals found on Macquarie Island are the elephant and fur seals which both use the island for breeding. Elephant seals are an extremely amazing mammals that weigh up to 3000 kg for a male and 300-900kg for a female and a new born pup can way up to 40kg and after 24 days of weaning can reach 140kg! These amazing creatures are a-matter-of-fact amazing divers and swimmers even with their enormous weight they can dive up to depths of 2 kilometers deep and hold their breath for up to 2 hours! Scientists believe that the elephant seal has thicker blood meaning it can hold more oxygen and preserve it for longer enabling them to stay submerged for long periods of time and due to the blubber layer that they have, can withstand the temperatures of the Antarctic waters and dive to great depths. The elephant seal diet consists mainly of fish and squid which live around the edges of the ice in Antarctica when they come to breed and moult.
Fur seals are among the smallest seals and are closely related to dogs and sea lions. They can walk on all fours and weigh around 200kg for a male and 40kg for a female along with their whiskers, teeth and fur coat they are quite similar to a dog and since they do not have a layer of blubber they rely on their fur coat to keep them warm in the Antarctic waters they live in. Macquarie Island is home to three different types of fur seals; Antarctic fur seals, sub-antarctic fur seals (who breed on the island) and New Zealand fur seal which will occur in large numbers but not breed. Fur seals have a diet of krill, fish and a bit of squid and stay submerged for 2-5 minutes and dive from around 30-100m in depth.
Fur seals are among the smallest seals and are closely related to dogs and sea lions. They can walk on all fours and weigh around 200kg for a male and 40kg for a female along with their whiskers, teeth and fur coat they are quite similar to a dog and since they do not have a layer of blubber they rely on their fur coat to keep them warm in the Antarctic waters they live in. Macquarie Island is home to three different types of fur seals; Antarctic fur seals, sub-antarctic fur seals (who breed on the island) and New Zealand fur seal which will occur in large numbers but not breed. Fur seals have a diet of krill, fish and a bit of squid and stay submerged for 2-5 minutes and dive from around 30-100m in depth.