Editing Subantarctic fur seal (section)

== Distribution ==
[[File:Arctocephalus tropicalis CrozetIslands pup.jpg|thumb|left|upright=0.95|Pup in the [[Crozet Islands]]]]
''Arctocephalus tropicalis'', the subantarctic fur seal, is geographically widespread; as their specific and common names imply, they generally breed in and inhabit more northerly (subantarctic, or "tropical") locations than the [[Antarctic fur seal]] (''Arctocephalus gazella'') does. The largest known breeding colonies are on [[Gough Island]], in the South Atlantic, and [[Île Amsterdam]], in the southern reaches of the [[Indian Ocean]]. Breeding grounds are also located on Marion Island in the [[Prince Edward Islands]]—which is shared with the Antarctic fur seal—as well as the [[Crozet Islands]] and [[Macquarie Island]]. In places where the two species intermingle, ''A. tropicalis'' can be identified visually by the lighter, orange colouring on its chest. Occasional [[Hybrid (biology)|hybridisation]] has been known to occur between the two seals in these areas.<ref name="hybrid">{{cite journal |last1=Lancaster |first1=M L |last2=Gemmell |first2=N J |last3=Negro |first3=S |last4=Goldsworthy |first4=S |last5=Sunnucks |first5=P |title=Ménage à trois on Macquarie Island: hybridization among three species of fur seal (Arctocephalus spp.) following historical population extinction |journal=Molecular Ecology |date=15 October 2006 |volume=15 |issue=12 |pages=3681–3692 |doi=10.1111/j.1365-294X.2006.03041.x |pmid=17032266|bibcode=2006MolEc..15.3681L |s2cid=837633 }}</ref>

About 300,000 subantarctic fur seals are remaining today, a number likely to be substantially lower than when they were first discovered in 1810, as they were hunted excessively for their [[Fur|pelts]] throughout the 19th century. Populations from ancient history, prior to human contact, were likely even higher. However, the species recovers rapidly, it seems, albeit in areas wherein it is protected by the [[Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals]] (CCAS). A small population on [[Heard Island]] is considered [[Endangered species|endangered]]. The Antarctic fur seal was also rigorously hunted, to the point of all but one breeding colony remaining by the year 1900, resulting in an increasingly low species-wide genetic variability; meanwhile, the genetic diversity amongst subantarctic fur seals has remained high.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Subantarctic Fur Seal conservation status |url=https://www.pinnipeds.org/seal-information/species-information-pages/sea-lions-and-fur-seals/subantarctic-fur-seal |access-date=2021-05-07 |website=Seal Conservation Society}}</ref> There appear to be three distinct genetic lineages in the subantarctic species, though none of them represent any particular geographical area.<ref name="Subantarctic Fur Seal"/>