Bester, Marthan Nieuwoudt2024-09-302024-09-302023-11Bester, M.N. 2023, 'Cryptorchidism in the sub‑Antarctic fur seal Arctocephalus tropicalis', Polar Biology, vol. 46, pp. 1215-1217. https://DOI.org/10.1007/s00300-023-03195-9.0722-4060 (print)1432-2056 (online)10.1007/s00300-023-03195-9http://hdl.handle.net/2263/98386DATA AVAILABILITY : The original datasheets on which the relevant data were recorded will be available upon request.The prevalence of cryptorchidism, a condition when one or more testes failed to move to their proper position(s), was evaluated for sub-Antarctic fur seals from Gough Island, South Atlantic. The reproductive tracts of male fur seals (n = 123) were examined and reproductive organs measured in a previous study. Only one fur seal, a 5-year-old sexually mature male, had one inguinal testis on the right side, and a small abdominal one situated below the kidney on the same side. A matching contralateral testis could not be located, neither in the scrotum or inguinal canal nor within the abdominal cavity. Amongst pinnipeds, cryptorchids rarely occurred in northern fur seals (0.01% to 0.02% prevalence), harbour seals (undetermined prevalence) and in sub-Antarctic fur seals (0.8% prevalence). Inconsequential on a population level, the rare instances of cryptorchidism in seals are interesting curiosities.en© The Author(s) 2023. This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.Fur sealsReproductionIpsilateral testesTesticular descentSexual maturitySDG-03: Good health and well-beingArticle