Monk Seal Facts

There are two different types of monk seals currently living in the world: the Hawaiian monk seal and the Mediterranean monk seal. Both species are of the Pinniped order, which includes all other seals, sea lions, and walruses. Pinnipeds are characterized by their large eyes and snouts, streamlined bodies, and swimming flippers.

Appearance

Adult Hawaiian monk seals measure about seven feet in length and typically weigh between 400 and 600 pounds, with females typically growing larger than males. Adults are covered with brown or gray fur, and pups are born with black fur.

Mediterranean monk seals grow between seven and nine feet in length and weigh between 530 and 880 pounds. Unlike their Hawaiian cousins, male Mediterranean monk seals are typically larger than females. The adult Mediterranean monk seal's fur is gray or brown, and the males are usually darker in coloration than the females.

Habitat

In nature, the Hawaiian monk seal can be found only on the Hawaiian Islands, and it is the only species of Pinniped to be found there. They mainly inhabit the smaller islands and atolls of Hawaii where there is little human presence. They occasionally move to the larger islands, but never for extended periods.

There are only two populations of Mediterranean monk seal left in the wild, and they can be found in the secluded caves in the northeast Mediterranean Sea and off the coast of northwest Africa.

Diet

Both types of monk seal typically eat fish, lobsters, and octopi that live in shallow water close to shore. The Hawaiian monk seal, however, has also been known to travel for long periods of time in the open sea and can dive up to 600 feet underwater to find food, whereas the Mediterranean monk seal only dives up to 100 feet at a time.

Breeding

In the spring and summer, Hawaiian monk seals travel to the remote, mainly uninhabited northern Hawaiian islands to breed. There, males will take to the water where they will attempt to mate with as many females as possible. Mating for the Mediterranean monk seal begins in September and lasts through November. Mating itself takes place in the water. For both species, pups are born approximately one year after mating takes place.

Life Cycle

Female monk seals of both varieties only bear one pup per mating, and they travel to sand beaches or lava beaches with shallow, protected water to have their pups. Both Mediterranean and Hawaiian monk seals are born with a downy black coat, but Mediterranean monk seal pups are born with a large white patch and light spots on their bellies. At the end of their nursing period, monk seal pups will lose their downy coat. This is called "molting," and after the black baby coat is gone, it will be replaced with a silvery gray coat, whichwith extended exposure to sun and sea will turn the dull brown color typically seen in adults.