Abstract
We document five cases of unusual colouration in Antarctic fur seals, Arctocephalus gazella, at Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island, from 1991–1992 to 2005–2006 austral summer seasons. This is the first time that these colour patterns have been reported for this species. These included four rare light coloured animals and one piebald individual. The incidence of this atypical colouring was low and the lack of resightings in previous and subsequent seasons suggests that these morphs are not common in Antarctic fur seals. Although the causes of these atypical light colour patterns are uncertain the subject is interesting for study and more observations on these atypical colourations are required for a proper assessment of the ecological and physiological implications of this condition in otariids can be conducted in the future.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Acevedo J, Aguayo M (2008) Leucistic South American Sea Lion in Chile, with a review of anomalously color on otariids. Revista de Biología Marina y Oceanografía 43(2)
Aguayo A (1978) The present status of the Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella, at South Shetland Islands. Polar Record 19(119):167–176
Aguayo A, Torres D (1967) Observación sobre mamíferos marinos durante la Vigésima Comisión Antártica Chilena. Revista de Biología Marina, Valparaíso 13(1):1–57
Barsh GS (1996) The genetics of pigmentation: from fancy genes to complex traits. Trends Genet 12:299–305
Bester MN, de Clerq H, Hofmeyr GJG, Nico de Bruyn PJ (2008) Leucistic southern elephant seal at Marion Island? Polar Biol 31:255–257
Bonner WN (1958) Notes on the Southern Fur Seal in South Georgia. Proc Zool Soc Lond 130(2):241–252
Bonner WN (1964) Population increase in the fur seal Arctocephalus tropicalis gazella, at South Georgia. In: Carrick R, Holdgate N, Prévost J (eds) Biologie antarctique: Proceedings of the first symposium organized by SCAR 1962. Hermann, Paris, pp 433–443
Bonner WN (1968) The Fur Seal of South Georgia. Scientific report of British Antarctic Survey 56:1–81
Breathnock AS (1969) Normal and abnormal melanin pigmentation of skin. In: Wolman M (ed) Pigments in pathology Ch 12. Tel Aviv University. Medical School, Hospital Tel—Hashomer, Israel, Academic Press, London
Cárdenas JC, Yáñez J (1983) Variaciones extremas de color del Lobo Fino Antártico, Arctocephalus gazella (Peters, 1875), en islas Shetland del Sur, Chile. (Pinnipedia: Otariidae). Serie Científica INACH 30:5–12
De Bruyn PJN, Pistorius PA, Tosh CA, Bester MN (2007) Leucistic Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus gazella at Marion Island. Polar Biol 30:1355–1358
Fertl D, Rosel P (2002) Albinism. In: Perrin WF, Würsig B, Thewissen JGM (eds) Encyclopedia of marine mammals. Academic Press, San Diego, pp 16–18
Fertl D, Pusser LT, Long JJ (1999) First record of an albino bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in the Gulf of Mexico, with a review of anomalously white cetaceans. Mar Mamm Sci 15:227–234
Fertl D, Barros NB, Rowlett RA, Estes S, Richlen M (2004) An update on anomalously white cetaceans, including the first account for the pantropical spotted dolphin (Stenella attenuata Graffmani). Lat Am J Aquat Mamm 3:163–166
Forestell PH, Patton DA, Hodda P, Kaufman GD (2001) Observations of a hypo-pigmented humpback whale, Megaptera novaeangliae, off east coast Australia: 1991–2000. Mem Queensl Mus 47:437–450
Hain JH, Leatherwood S (1982) Two sightings of white pilot whales, Globicephala melaena, and summarized records of anomalously white cetaceans. J Mamm 63:338–343
Hoekstra HE (2006) Genetics, development and evolution of adaptive pigmentation in vertebrates. Heredity 97:222–234
Hofmeyr GJG, Bester MN, Kirkman SP (2005) Leucistic Antarctic fur seals at Bouvetøya. Polar Biol 29:77–79
Jehl J (1985) Leucism in eared grebes in western North America. Condor 87:439–441
King J (1983) Seals of the world. Oxford University Press, Cambridge, p 240
Kowalski K (1976) Mammals. An outline of theriology. Panstwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe, Warszawa. Translated from the Polish. pp 617
Marín D, Del Pozo A (2005) Pigmentación de la piel (I). Melaninas: conceptos generales e implicaciones cosméticas. OFFARM 24(1):116–118
Reeves RR, Stewart BS, Leatherwood S (1992) The Sierra Club handbook of seals and sirenians. Sierra Club Books, San Francisco
Rook A, Wilkinson DS, Ebling FJB, Champion RH, Burton JL (eds) (1998) Textbook of dermatology. 4th edn. Blackwell Scientific Publications. pp 4144
Scheffer VB (1962) Pelage and surface topography of the northern fur seal. US Department Interior Nature American Fauna No 64. pp 92
Speckman SG, Sheffield G (2001) First record of an anomalously white killer whale, Orcinus orca, near St. Lawrence Island, northern Bering Sea, Alaska. Can Field Nat 115(3):501–502
Texera W (1974) Nuevos antecedentes sobre mamíferos marinos de Magallanes. Anales del Instituto de la Patagonia (Chile) 5:189–198
Torres D (1991) Pinnípedos con marcas de distinta procedencia avistados en las Shetland del Sur, Antártica. Boletín Antártico Chileno 10(2):16–19
Torres D, Guerra C, Cárdenas JC (1984) Primeros registros de Arctocephalus gazella y nuevos hallazgos de Arctocephalus tropicalis y Leptonychotes weddelli en el Archipiélago de Juan Fernández. Serie Científica INACH 31:115–148
Wagner RP, Mitchell HK (1964) Genetics and metabolism. Willey, New York
Wilson JW, Burle M-H, Bester MN (2006) Vagrant Anatrctic pinnipeds at Gough Island. Polar Biol 29:905–908
Acknowledgments
The researchers thank the Directors of the Instituto Antártico Chileno (INACH) for providing funding and constant support to the INACH 018 Project and to all our fellow members of the project, during the 1997–2006 summer seasons. The authors thank Nico de Bruyn and Greg Hofmeyr for his valuable comments and suggestions to improve this manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Acevedo, J., Torres, D. & Aguayo-Lobo, A. Rare piebald and partially leucistic Antarctic fur seals, Arctocephalus gazella, at Cape Shirreff, Livingston Island, Antarctica. Polar Biol 32, 41–45 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0500-6
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00300-008-0500-6