Guadalupe Fur Seal Skull, Male

BC-360 $325.00

Guadalupe fur seals are members of the "eared seal" family, Otariidae, and they can be found occupying coastal rocky habitats and caves in the west coastal waters of Mexico and Southern California.

These seals are brown-grey in color with a yellowish mane on the nape of their neck and a pointed snout. There is great sexual dimorphism in this species, with males weighing up to 350lbs and reaching lengths of over 6ft. The male skull is larger, with more pronounced boney structures than the female. The sagittal crest and nuchal crest present as rugged, boney ridges for muscle attachment. Additionally, the zygomatic bones are more projecting with a longer snout.

Commercial sealers hunted these seals to near extinction in the 1880's. However, a pair of scientists from the University of California rediscovered a breeding population in a cave on Guadalupe Island. Since this discovery, the Guadalupe seal populations has continued to increase due to protection by the Mexican Government and is listed as "Least Concern" by the IUCN Red List.

2-part skull (separate cranium & jaw).

Jaw available individually as well, please inquire.