Neotropical ocean coasts; ranges from southern Peru (Paracas Peninsula) south to Cape Horn on the Pacific side, and northward to southern Brazil on the Atlantic side. Also found in the Falkland Islands, Staten Island, and Escondida Island. There are two subspecies, based on size and range. Arctocephalus australis gracilis, the more widespread of the two, occurs throughout the entire range along the mainland. The smaller subspecies, Arctocephalus australis australis, inhabits the Falkland Islands. Recently, a population on South Georgia Island was determined to be A. australis australis (Reeves, et al. 1992, Daneri, et al. 1997, Nowak 1999).

Biogeographic Regions: neotropical (Native ); atlantic ocean (Native ); pacific ocean (Native )