http://www.defenders.org/hawaiian-monk-seal/basic-facts, http://www.savemonkseals.ucsc.edu/science, Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. on the beach they cannot walk on their flippers at all. The Hawaiian monk seal is one of NOAA Fisheries' Species in the Spotlight. © … The seals use the ocean temperature to keep them cold enough and use the warm weather and sand to warm up during a nice long nap. … Hawaiian monk seals spend the vast majority of their lives at sea, but do come to shore to give birth, molt, and to find shelter in large storms. They are dark gray on their back side and silvery gray on their stomachs. Quick facts about this endemic marine mammal! Hawaiian monk seal has a lifesp an of 25 to 30 years. Hawaiian Monk seals are a critically endangered group of warm water seals that are only found in the Hawaiian archipelago. Hawaiian monk seal facts! The only other monk seal species, the Mediterranean monk seal, is deemed critically endangered with less than 500 individuals remaining. Pups are born black, … The seals were unable to remain on the dry beach platform during the day except during very high winds, extensive cloud cover, or rain. The size and weight of adult female Hawaiian monk seals is usually bigger and larger than their male counterparts. Hawaiian monk seals have never been observed hunting pelagic fish, such as mahi-mahi, ahi, aku, etc. The Hawaiian monk seal evolved in an area without people or other land predators. Picture 2 – Hawaiian Monk Seal Source – www.mcbi.org. The Hawaiian monk seal was designated as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1976. Monk seals have streamlined bodies that make them good swimmers because of their aerodynamic body shape. The Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi, ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua). Monk seals are primarily “benthic” foragers (bottom feeders), eating a variety of prey including fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. In the water, Hawaiian monk seals propel themselves by moving their hind flippers and using their front flippers as rudders. Hawaiian monk seal Diet. "The External appearance and anatomy Mediterranean monk seals have adapted well to life in their aquatic medium. They stay with their mothers for 35 to 40 days while they nurse. The population is currently estimated at 60% of the population documented in the late 1950s, and there is no evidence to indicate the population will begin growing in the near future. You may have heard of me because I’m one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world (although I guess that’s not something to brag about). We certainly struggle with marine debris: the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands act like a net in the North Pacific, ensnaring large amounts of drifting fishing gear and debris on its fringing … Instead, they remain inactive during the heat of the day, finding a resting spot with shade or wet sand. Hawaiian monk seals inhabit reefs, shallow lagoons, open ocean and beaches. But within 6 weeks, they may grow as heavy as 150 to 250 pounds. The other current species is the Mediterranean monk seal, while the Caribbean monk seal was declared extinct in 2008. The mother weans her pup after 6 weeks and until that time, the pup gains around 150 pounds of weight. During this time the mother gives the pup swimming lessons each day. They are solitary animals both on land and in the water. We’re mainly threatened by entanglement in fishing gear, food availability, disease and predation, and although many protections are in place our numbers have continued to fall. Their front and back limbs are flipper-like – the front flippers, which have five digits, are smaller than the back flippers. they scoot along like an inchworm or wiggle from side to side. The Hawaiian monk seal occurs only in the Central Pacific, in the mostly uninhabited northwestern Hawaiian Islands, with a small breeding population inhabiting the main Hawaiian Islands. Length 7 feet (males); up to 7.5 feet (females)Weight 400 lbs (males); up to 600 lbs (females). The Hawaiian monk seal is one of only two current monk seal species. The Hawaiian monk seal evolved in an area without people or other land predators. Hawaiian monk seals are generalist predators known to eat fishes, squids/octopuses, and crustaceans, like crabs and lobsters. A juvenile Hawaiian monk seal was found with a spotted eel in its nose at French Frigate Shoals in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands this past summer (Photo: NOAA Fisheries/Brittany Dolan). Survival Adaptations. Hawaiian Monk seals have to deal with the warm climate of the Hawaiian Islands. Monk seals — also known as `Ilio-holo-i-ka-uana, or “the dog that runs in the rough seas” — are the official marine mammals of Hawai`i. Hawaiian monk seals face a variety of threats, including entanglement, prey limitation, shark predation, fishery interaction, intentional killing, loss of terrestrial habitat to rising sea levels, and disease. Its grey coat, white belly, and slender physique distinguish them from their cousin, the harbor seal (Phoca vitulina). In the nearly 40 years that we have been working to monitor and protect endangered Hawaiian monk seals, we have only started seeing "eels in noses" in the last few years. This improved swimming ability and hydrodynamic body shape comes at the expense of mobility on land and increases vulnerability to terrestrial predators (Hammill 2002). Monachus schauinslandi (Matschie, 1905), are called “Ilio holo I ka uaua”, which means “the dog that goes in rough water.” Current Conservation Efforts Enhancing Hawaiian monk seal … Get monk seal updates and "pupdates" This picture shows a monk seal lurking in the reef using it's fat to stay warm in the deep waters. ReproductionMating Season Between December and mid-August.Gestation Approximately 1 year.Litter Size 1 pupPups are about three feet long and weigh about 35 pounds when they are born. Monachus schauinslandi (Hawaiian Monk Seal) underwater at Five Fathom Pinnacle, Hawaii. The average weight of Hawaiian monk seal pups may range from 30 to 40 pounds and they may be as long as 3 feet. They are also one of the few species known to successfully hunt and eat garden eels – elongate, shy eels that live in deep burrows in sand flats near coral reefs – and they have been documented diving to depths of more than 1000 feet (300 m) while foraging. They commonly haul out on sandy beaches. She returned to Kauaʻi on July 14, 2018, and two days later, she was observed with a new pup. Monk Seal Fact Files Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus) Biology Evolution. Hawaiian monk seals were hunted to brink of extinction during the 19th and early 20th century and their population has yet to recover. Phocids, including the Hawaiian monk seal, are more adapted to swimming than the otariids. The behavior of Hawaiian monk seals at French Frigate Shoals was studied in order to obtain information on their adaptation to a tropical climate. They can spend many days at the sea feeding, which can be up to one month, and they can eat as much as 10% of their body weight in one day. Hawaiian monk seals are known as the “most primitive of living seals.” They have streamlined bodies which make them good swimmer. (Kent Backman via Wikimedia Commons) This discovery allowed the scientists to trace the evolution of how the muscles of more than 100 species of mammals , including fossil remains of their ancient predecessors, were able to store oxygen. The Hawaiian monk seal is named for its folds of skin that somewhat resemble a monk's cowl, and because it’s usually seen alone or in small groups. The hind flippers cannot be turned forward, so to move on land, the seals must wiggle them. Mediterranean monk seals are members of a group of mammals that have adapted well to life at sea, the Pinnipedia – seals. There are believed to be about 34 different species of pinnipeds. The ancient Hawaiian name was "llio holo I ka uaua" meaning "dog that runs in rough water. Historical Biogeography and Phylogenetic Relationships. Hawaiian monk seals do not have special physical adaptations to deal with the warm climate in which they live. 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