Mediterranean Monk Seal Facts- Monachus monachus

One of Europe’s Most Endangered Mammals

Sep 25, 2009

According to the IUCN, one in six Mediterranean mammals face extinction due to habitat destruction, climate change and agriculture. Among the endangered is the Monk Seal.

The Mediterranean Monk Seal is the darkest colored seal of the region. Males are generally black with a white patch on the belly and females are brown or gray in color with a lighter color on their belly.

They live in groups around the Black Sea and the Mediterranean and can also be found around the coast of Mauritania in West Africa. Due to development along the Black Sea and Mediterranean coastlines, there are increasingly fewer areas for the seals to inhabit.

Overview of the Mediterranean Monk Seal

Mediterranean Monk Seals live in inaccessible caves and sandy beaches along the Mediterranean and Black Sea coastlines. Caves openings often are not visible from the shore and have an underwater entry. Females usually give birth in these caves.

Males are slightly larger than females and are black in color with a white underbelly. The females are brown or gray with a pale belly. They have a short snout with prominent nostrils and short flippers with claws. Current Taxonomy of the Mediterranean Monk Seal:

Mediterranean monk seals reach maturity at 4-6 years of age and have a seal pup every 2 years. Pups can be born at any time of the year but most commonly during autumn. Pups weigh approximately 15-20kg when they are born and are between 88-103cm in length.

Pups can swim and dive from 2 weeks of age and are weaned at 17 weeks, when they will begin to feed on fish and cephalopods (mollusks). Pups stay with their mothers for 3 years before going out on their own.

Pups survival rate is only 50% and most of those die within the first few months of life. Pups born during September to January have a higher mortality rate due to storms and high tides. Pups born during other times of the year have a much higher survival rate and most pups are born around October – November. Pups that do survive grow to approximately 2.3-2.8m (7.5-9.25 ft) and weigh in at 250-300kg (550-660 lb) and can live up to 30 years in the wild.

Why is the Mediterranean Monk Seal Endangered?

Aside from the pups not surviving, Monk seals don’t tolerate disturbances well; in fact a pregnant female can abort the fetus if she becomes too distressed. Hunting and being caught in fishing nets also decreases their numbers and it is believed that there are only between 500-600 individuals left. Females tend to give birth in caves due to human disturbances.

While the Mediterranean monk seal used to inhabit a wide range of areas, it is now basically reduced to the two populations, along the northeastern Mediterranean and the northeast Atlantic, off the African coast. The biggest threat is the destruction of habitats but also climate change, agriculture, fishing, hunting, decreased food due to over fishing and tourism.

Preventing hunting, restoration of habitats and food chains, protection, no fishing zones, rescue and rehabilitation are where conservation efforts are focused in an attempt to minimize the threat of extinction for these mammals

The copyright of the article Mediterranean Monk Seal Facts- Monachus monachus in Marine Mammals is owned by Roberta Goli. Permission to republish Mediterranean Monk Seal Facts- Monachus monachus in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.