Arctophoca

The genus Arctophoca is a proposed genus of pinnipeds, containing most species of fur seal. Usually, all fur seals are included in the genus Arctocephalus, but recent studies has shown the genus to be paraphyletic.[1] In that case, only the brown fur seal remains in Arctocephalus, while the genus Arctophoca is resurrected for the remaining species.[2] This split is however not yet official.

a female of the subantarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus tropicalis) resting on a rock.

References

  1. Yonezawa, T.; et al. (2009). "The monophyletic origin of sea lions and fur seals (Carnivora; Otariidae) in the Southern Hemisphere". Gene. 441 (1–2): 89–99. doi:10.1016/j.gene.2009.01.022. PMID 19254754.
  2. Berta, A.; Churchill, M. (2012). "Pinniped Taxonomy: evidence for species and subspecies". Mammal Review. 42 (3): 207–234. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2907.2011.00193.x.


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