Mediterranean monk seal

E66650

The Mediterranean monk seal is one of the world’s most endangered marine mammals, a rare earless seal native to the Mediterranean and adjacent seas.

Aliases (1)

Statements (49)
Predicate Object
instanceOf earless seal
endangered species
marine mammal
seal
activityPattern primarily diurnal
bodyLength approximately 2.3 meters (adult)
bodyMass up to about 300 kilograms (adult)
class Mammalia
coloration adults generally dark grey to brown above
adults lighter on the underside
commonName Mediterranean monk seal
conservationAction legal protection
monitoring of breeding sites
protected areas establishment
diet cephalopods
crustaceans
fish
distributionTrend highly fragmented range
family Phocidae
genus Monachus
habitat marine coastal waters
rocky shorelines
sea caves
IUCNStatus Endangered
kingdom Animalia
lifespan around 20 to 30 years in the wild
namedAfter monk-like appearance of fur pattern
nativeTo Black Sea (historically)
Mediterranean Sea
coasts of northwest Africa
eastern North Atlantic Ocean
notablePopulation Aegean Sea
Cabo Blanco Peninsula
Madeira archipelago
order Carnivora
phylum Chordata
populationTrend increasing in some colonies due to conservation
pupColoration pups born with black coat with white belly patch
reproduction gives birth in sea caves
usually gives birth to a single pup
scientificName Monachus monachus
sexualDimorphism males larger than females
socialBehavior generally solitary or in small groups
taxonRank species
threat entanglement in fishing gear
habitat loss
human disturbance
persecution by fishers
pollution

Referenced by (3)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Mediterranean monk seal
commonName
Aegean Sea
hasMarineLife
Mediterranean monk seal ("Monachus monachus")
scientificName

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