Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus (Australian fur seal)

Status: least concern.

Lazy summers days! I shot this on a boat tour around Tasman Island (great day). The guide said these were Australian fur seals. The next group we saw were apparently New Zealand fur seals (no keeper shots).

When I got back to process the shots, I tried to look into how you can identify which species is which. Apparently it's "very difficult" to tell them apart - as there are subtle physical differences, behavioral aspects invovled, and "requires close proximity". Hmmmm..... not much help when going off a photo.

So I have to take the guides word for it - but would happily be corrected by someone in the know.