Hawaiian monk seal

Hawaiian monk seal
Hawaiian monk seal at Kaʻula
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Carnivora
Clade: Pinnipedia
Family: Phocidae
Genus: Neomonachus
Species:
N. schauinslandi
Binomial name
Neomonachus schauinslandi
(Matschie, 1905)
Hawaiian monk seal range
Synonyms

Monachus schauinslandi
Matschie, 1905[1]

The Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi) is an endangered species of earless seal in the family Phocidae that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.[2]

The Hawaiian monk seal is one of two extant monk seal species; the other is the Mediterranean monk seal. A third species, the Caribbean monk seal, is extinct.[3]

The Hawaiian monk seal is the only seal native to Hawaii, and, along with the Hawaiian hoary bat, is one of only two mammals endemic to the islands.[4]

N. schauinslandi is a conservation reliant endangered species. The small population of about 1,400 individuals is threatened by human encroachment, very low levels of genetic variation, entanglement in fishing nets, marine debris, disease, and past commercial hunting for skins.[5][6] There are many methods of conservation biology when it comes to endangered species; translocation, captive care, habitat cleanup, and educating the public about the Hawaiian monk seal are some of the methods that can be employed.[7][8][9]

  1. ^ a b Littnan, C.; Harting, A.; Baker, J. (2015). "Neomonachus schauinslandi". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T13654A45227978. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-2.RLTS.T13654A45227978.en.
  2. ^ "Hawaiian Monk Seal, Monachus schauinslandi ". monachus-guardian.org. 2006. Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference NOAA Fish was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Nitta, Eugene; Henderson JR (1993). "A review of interactions between Hawaii's fisheries and protected species" (PDF). Marine Fisheries Review. 83. 55 (2). Retrieved May 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Monk Seal: Population Size and Threats". Pacific Islands Regional Office, NOAA Fisheries, Dept. of Commerce. Retrieved February 17, 2017.
  6. ^ Solomon, Molly (January 25, 2017). "Hawaiian Monk Seal Population On The Rise". hpr2.org. Honolulu, HI: Hawaii Public Radio. Retrieved June 11, 2018.
  7. ^ Boland, R; Donohue, R (2003). "Marine Debris Accumulation in the Nearshore Marine Habitat of the Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal, Monachus Schauinslandi". Marine Pollution Bulletin. 11. 46 (11): 1385–139. doi:10.1016/S0025-326X(03)00291-1. PMID 14607537.
  8. ^ Schultz J, J. K.; Baker J; Toonen R; Bowen B (2009). "Extremely Low Genetic Diversity in the Endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal (Monachus Schauinslandi)". Journal of Heredity. 1. 100 (1): 25–33. doi:10.1093/jhered/esn077. PMID 18815116.
  9. ^ Schultz, J; Baker J; Toonen R; Bowen B (2011). "Range-Wide Genetic Connectivity of the Hawaiian Monk Seal and Implications for Translocation". Conservation Biology. 1. 25 (1): 124–132. Bibcode:2011ConBi..25..124S. doi:10.1111/j.1523-1739.2010.01615.x. PMID 21166713. S2CID 25475001.