Tristan Da Cunha Archipelago Research Articles

Stalked barnacles on an adult male sub-Antarctic fur seal at Inaccessible Island, Tristan da Cunha

An adult male sub-Antarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis, on Inaccessible Island in the Tristan da Cunha archipelago (TdC), was observed infested with goose barnacles, likely Lepas australis. Although adult females have been recorded to carry goose barnacles, this is the first record from an adult male at a breeding island. Males remain at sea throughout winter, so it is not clear why there are not more records of goose barnacles attached to their pelage.

Early pupping of a sub-Antarctic fur seal at Inaccessible Island, Tristan da Cunha

A sub-Antarctic fur seal, Arctocephalus tropicalis, pup was located on Inaccessible Island in the Tristan da Cunha archipelago (TdC), well before the start of the annual breeding (pupping and mating) season in 2018. It was born a few days before 27 September 2018, at least 59 days before the next pup was observed on the island in 2018 and 75 days before the median birthdate for the species at the TdC. A malfunctioning of the obligate delay of implantation of the blastocyst in its mother was likely the cause of the early birth.