The Galapagos Fur Seal is the smallest of the Southern Fur Seal reaching a length of up to 5 feet at maturity. Their coats of dark gray brown to dusky black nearly lead these animals to extinction, as hunters targeted them. Pups are born with a smooth and silky skin to which fur develops around 6 months of age. This made them prime targets for hunters back in the 18th century.
These animals have survived from the brink of extinction, are the shiest creatures in the archipelago. Their numbers now compare in numbers with the sea lions. During the day they hide from the hot equatorial sun in shelves or caves of the rocky lava cliffs of the western islands. At night they feed on squid and fish avoiding the sharks, which are their natural predator.