Animalscaretips
They usually sleep on beaches, sometimes for days at a time. They also occasionally sleep in small underwater caves. Monk seals do not migrate seasonally, but some seals have traveled hundreds of miles in the open ocean.
- What do you do if you see a Hawaiian monk seal?
- What makes the Hawaiian monk seal unique?
- How rare are Hawaiian monk seals?
- What eats the Hawaiian monk seal?
- Do monk seals molt?
- Do monk seals eat plants?
- What would happen if Hawaiian monk seals went extinct?
- Do monk seals have fur?
- Do sharks eat Hawaiian monk seals?
- How close can you get to a Hawaiian monk seal?
- How often do monk seals give birth?
- Do monk seals travel together?
- Do monk seals eat penguins?
- Do sea lions live in Hawaii?
What do you do if you see a Hawaiian monk seal?
Please report all monk seal sightings, injuries, and strandings to the NOAA Marine Wildlife Hotline at (888) 256-9840.
What makes the Hawaiian monk seal unique?
The Hawaiian monk seal is unique in that they live in a tropical climate. Most seals prefer frigid water. Hawaiian monk seals do not have external ears and they cannot rotate their hind flippers underneath their bodies.
How rare are Hawaiian monk seals?
With an estimated population of 1,200, the Hawaiian monk seal is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world, and the rarest seal in US waters.
What eats the Hawaiian monk seal?
Tiger sharks often prey upon Hawaiian monk seals as evidenced by shark bite wounds present on many monk seals. Other shark predators include gray reef and white-tipped reef sharks.
Do monk seals molt?
Monk seals undergo a "catastrophic molt" about once per year, where they shed the top layer of their skin and fur (similar to elephant seals). Seals that spend a long time at sea foraging can grow algae on their fur. Those that look green haven't molted recently and may be getting ready to shed into a new silvery coat.
Do monk seals eat plants?
Monk seals are primarily “benthic” foragers (bottom feeders), eating a variety of prey including fish, cephalopods, and crustaceans. Their diet varies by location, sex, and age.
What would happen if Hawaiian monk seals went extinct?
Hawaii's First Native Sea Mammal
The Hawaiian Monk Seal is one of two species of seals that have existed since ancient times, the other being the critically endangered Mediterranean Monk Seal. Its extinction would not only impact the history of Hawaii, but also the history of our natural planet.
Do monk seals have fur?
The seals are born with a black lanugo—a fur coat found on some infant mammals. ... They shed this as they grow, and as adults, they have dark gray backs and light-colored bellies. Hawaiian monk seals are 7 to 7.5 feet (2.1 to 2.2 meters) in length, with females larger than males.
Do sharks eat Hawaiian monk seals?
Sharks are natural predators of Hawaiian monk seals, but during one unusual period, shark attacks at the French Frigate Shoals shot up, killing nearly a quarter of all pups born between 1997 and 2010. This kind of predation continues to be a concern.
How close can you get to a Hawaiian monk seal?
Hawaiian monk seals
Photo: Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources/Lesley Macpherson Recommended viewing distance: At least 50 feet (15 meters) away—on land and in water.
How often do monk seals give birth?
Reproduction. Hawaiian monk seals mate in the water during their breeding season, which occurs between June and August. Females reach maturity at age four and give birth to one pup a year. The fetus takes nine months to develop, with birth occurring between March and June.
Do monk seals travel together?
Monk seals are polygynous, and group together in harems. They feed mainly on bony fish and cephalopods, but they are opportunistic. ... Monk seals have developed a fear of humans, and may even abandon beaches due to human presence. Currently, around 1,700 monk seals remain.
Do monk seals eat penguins?
Yes, seals do eat penguins. Seals are carnivorous mammals and predators. Some varieties of seals such as fur seals and leopard seals regularly eat penguins on land and in the sea. A major part of their diet comprises penguins and other small Antarctic creatures.
Do sea lions live in Hawaii?
The Hawaiian monk seal population has only about 1,400 individuals, making it the most endangered seal or sea lion species in the United States.
