Predation on cephalopods by Antarctic fur seals, Arctocephalus gazella at two localities of the Scotia Arc, Antarctica

The cephalopod remains from 206 Antarctic fur seal (Arctocephalus ga ella) seats collected at Mossman Peninsula, South Orkney Islands (n = 105) and at Stranger Point, South Shetland Islands (n = 101) contained 148 beaks (57 l ower and 91 upper). The lower beaks were sorted and measured. Identificatio n of 33 of the lower beaks that were collected at Mossman Peninsula reveale d two squid species, Brachioteuthis ?picta (n = 26) and Psychroteuthis glac ialis (n = 7), with lower rostral lengths (LRL) of 2.0-3.5 mm, and 1.0-2.5 mm, respectively. Identification of 15 of the lower beaks collected at Stra nger Point revealed the same squid species, with the LRL of B. ?picta rangi ng from 3.0-3.4 mm (n = 9), and that of P. glacialis from 2.0 to 3.5 mm (n = 6). Estimated squid sizes and wet masses indicate that Antarctic fur seal s feed on the small subadult squid which inhabit the surface layers. We hav e compared the squid diet estimated for the seals with that reported for it s congeners in lower latitudes and other Antarctic seals, and conclude that cephalopods do not form an important food resource for Antarctic fur seals .