A vagrant Subantarctìc fur seal <i>Arctocephalus tropicalis</i> found in the Comores

Abstract

A juvenile Subantarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis was caught near the island of Anjouan, Comores, about 500 km off the east coast of Africa, on 20 August 1990. This record represents a northerly extension by some 1800 km of the recorded east coast range. The breeding colonies of this species are on temperate islands north of the Antarctic Polar Front. The dosest colonies are on Amsterdam Island and the Prince Edward islands, nearly 4000 km south-west and south, respectively of this sighting.