Endless Ocean Wiki

Endless Ocean Luminous is on its way and is set to release on May 2nd, 2024!

In that time, we ask that all editors please do not make edits speculating on or relating to the game. These will be handled and carried out once the game is released.

Until then, happy browsing, and here's to Endless Ocean Luminous!

READ MORE

Endless Ocean Wiki
Register
Advertisement


The Cape fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus) is a species of seal found in both Endless Ocean and Endless Ocean 2.

The largest of the fur seals, the Cape fur seal is known for its diving capabilities. Juvenile Cape fur seals are born with black fur, but their fur fades to grey before they grow into their final adult colors, which can range from grayish-black to golden-brown.

Encyclopedia Description[]

Endless Ocean[]

"These mammals have broad, spindle-shaped bodies that are protected by a thick layer of fat. Their dense grey fur forms a kind of mane around the neck. They may appear on your boat from time to time.

These males are the largest of all seals and can can reach weights in excess of 650 lbs. Their fur is black at birth but slowly turns gray as they age. They will often dive 150 to 300 feet down as they dive in search for food.

Although groups of seals usually number in the dozens, larger groups are common near breeding grounds. In some places, there can be tens of thousands of seals gathered at the same time."

Endless Ocean 2[]

"With a large nose and a body weight exceeding 650 lb., this seal is the largest fur seal. Although born with a black body, it becomes gray as it matures. Despite normally living in groups of a dozen or so, they can also sometimes be seen in tens of thousands near their breeding grounds."

Location[]

Endless Ocean[]

A small group of Cape fur seals can be seen at Sunshine Beach during the months of February, May, August, and November. They may also appear on the Gabbiano occasionally, and will appear more often when it is parked in the northwestern quadrant of the map.

Endless Ocean 2[]

They are commonly found all around the northern section of the Weddell Sea.

Behavior[]

In the water, they are seen swimming in large groups. On land, they can be seen accompanied by their young. They like food and being touched, and on land they will beg for food if it is held out to them.

Gallery[]

Notes[]

  • This species is one of several that can appear during the loading screens while diving in the Weddell Sea.

Real-Life Information[]

  • The in-game descriptions for this animal state that the males reach over 650 pounds (roughly 300 kilograms), and this is true; they can actually reach over 750 pounds (340 kilograms), up to 770 pounds (350 kilograms)[1][2][3]. This does indeed place them as the largest fur seals[4].
  • The first game reports that the Cape fur seal will swim down as far as 300 feet (90 meters) in search for food. This is actually an understatement - Cape fur seals can dive more than 650 feet (200 meters) below the surface when foraging[1][5]. However, at least one study has shown that they prefer to stay within 160 feet (50 meters) of the surface rather than frequently traveling down to the seafloor[6]. They feed on a wide variety of prey, including various kinds of fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans[7].
  • Adults of this species range from brown to the grey-black seen in-game[1]. Pups, however, are born black, as is accurately said in both in-game descriptions[2]. This black fades to an olive-grey color as the seal ages, before they finally shift to their adult colors[8].
  • This animal is frequently referred to as the brown fur seal or the Afro-Australian fur seal[9][10]. There are two subspecies, with different colloquial names - the Australian fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus) and the South African fur seal (Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus)[3][11][12]. The latter of those two, A. p. pusillus, is the one that's also referred to as the Cape fur seal[13][14]; therefore, the animals in-game are most likely A. p. pusillus.
    • Analysis of skull shape, analysis of DNA, and a separate geographical range are the factors that led to the separating of these subspecies; however, more recent analyses have suggested that the taxonomy of the genus as a whole, Arctocephalus, be re-examined[12][15].
  • The Cape fur seal is classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as a species of least concern, which means that it won't go extinct anytime soon, barring an uptick in environmental or manmade threats[10]. One of the more prevalent detriments to numbers is the part these seals play in the fur trade, which is prominent in Namibia[16].

Navigation[]


References[]

Advertisement