Hawaiian Monk Seal
AN ENDANGERED SPECIES OF HAWAII
DESCRIPTION
- The Hawaiian Monk Seal is an aquatic mamal
- That stay most of the time in the ocean
- They live in Hawaii
- Their are only about 1,200 left whitch is an extremley low amount
- They have rubbery skin
- adult males weight about 300-400 pounds and are 7 feet in length
- Adult females weight 400-600 pounds and are 8 feet in length
- They are part of the Phocidae family (NOAA)
FOOD CHAIN
The Hawaiian Monk Seal eats Fish, Cephalopods, Crustacean. it is hunted by humans. They don't have a HUGE impact on the food chain but are still needed. (NOAAR)
HABITAT
- The Hawaiian Monk seal lives on Hawaii island located in America
- It shares its time living between coast and ocean
- The water temperature can range from 76-81 F
- The temperature outside the water is also very warm
- It is never cold (NOAA)
Adaptation
- Hawaiian Monk Seals cant exactly defend themselves
- most die because of oil spills and other human related activities
- they have been killed by fishermen because of there oil, meet,and hides (NOAAR)
CRITICAL INFORMATION
Some of the basic reasons Hawaiian Monk Seals are endangered are because:
- Food limitations for younger seals
- getting stuck in marine debris
- human interference EX: ~getting stuck in fishing gear ~mother pup disturbance ~ exposure to diseases
- Male aggression towards females
- disease out break
- fishermen and partners of NOAA are making a recovery plan for the Hawaiian Monk Seal
- some public education campaigns are being done to raise awareness about the risk of extinction of Hawaiian Monk Seals (NOAAR)
Photo #1 NOAA via flickr
Photo #2 Brian Omura via flickr
Photo #3 Geordie Mott via flickr
Photo #4 Ylacarmoborg via flickr
Photo #5 Fuzzy Gerdes via flickr