Northern fur seal

Description

Northern fur seals have extreme sexual dimorphism,with males being 30–40% longer and more than 4.5 times heavier than adult females.The head is foreshortened in both sexes because of the very short,down-curved muzzle,and small nose,which extends slightly beyond the mouth in females and moderately in males.The pelage is thick and luxuriant,with a dense underfur in a creamy color.The underfur is obscured by the longer guard hairs,although it is partially visible when the animals are wet.Features of both fore and hind flippers are unique and diagnostic of the species.Fur is absent on the top of the fore flippers and an abrupt "clean line" is seen across the wrist where the fur ends.