Latin name:
Monachinae-Monachus-M.schauinslandt
Description:
Female Hawaiian monk seals are larger than the males (2.1 to 2.4 m in length and 200 to 272 kg in weight). They are robust and have short front flippers. Their rather short head is wide and flat and the eyes are quite far apart. They have wide, flat muzzles and the females have four nipples. After moulting, young female Hawaiian monk seals are silvery grey with silvery white bellies. Later in the year, they become browner with yellowish bellies. Male Hawaiian monk seals become browner as they grow older.
Pups:
Pups are born in spring, with black woolly fur.
Status:
In the 19th century, because of human intervention, the Hawaiian Monk Seal became an endangered species. Disturbance caused by human beings, the Second World War, shark attacks, and a bacterial infection almost wiped out the entire species. Now, they are being carefully monitored and protected by the US.
Range:
