monk seal
Tropical solitary pinniped
A monk seal is a rare tropical seal found in warm waters, unlike most seals that inhabit cold regions.
Two species survive: the Hawaiian monk seal and the Mediterranean monk seal, both critically endangered.
The name comes from the folds of skin around the head that resemble a monk's cowl, and perhaps from their solitary habits.
- HawaiianFrom the 50th state
- tropical watersSeas near the equator
- lone survivorOnly one who lived
- pinnipedFlippered marine mammal group
- threatened speciesWildlife at extinction risk
breeding colonies · puppy dog eyes · marine mammal · ocean dweller · endemic species · critical habitat · conservation effort · marine sanctuary · endangered · Mediterranean · wildlife rehabilitation · flippers · basking · beach bum · diving · mammal · beach · rocky shoreline
- sea lifeshark, whale, dolphin, salmon, jellyfish
- HawaiiHawaii, Pearl Harbor, Honolulu, Maui, Waikiki Beach
- Eurasian wildlifeSiberian tiger, giant panda, red panda, snow leopard, Asian elephant
- island wildlifemarine iguana, Darwin's finches, Galapagos tortoise, giant tortoise, giant tortoises
- marine mammalsdolphin, whales, whale, dolphins, porpoise
- Pacific wildlifecoconut crab, flying fox, fruit bat, green sea turtle, frigatebird
social behavior among pinnipeds
monk sealsea lion
Eared flippered marine mammal
California sea lion · harbor seal · harp seal · leopard seal · fur seal