Abstract:
A leucistic Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus
gazella) pup was born on subantarctic Marion Island during
the austral summer of 2010/2011. This is the first confirmed
record of a leucistic fur seal pup born outside the
Scotia Arc islands. Additionally, we report on a leucistic
adult female Antarctic fur seal producing typical black
pups for five non-consecutive summers on Marion Island.
The birth of a leucistic pup, together with the multiple
black pups produced by the leucistic female, suggests that
the recessive genes responsible for leucism are now
entrenched within the Marion Island population.
