Critter Science
  • Zoology
    • Ecology
      • Animal Conservation
        • CITES: Protecting Wildlife
        • Endangered Animals
        • Ex Situ Explained
        • In Situ Explained
      • Ecosystems
        • The Biomes
      • Evolution. The Facts.
        • Animal Devolution
        • Arachnids – What are They?
        • Evolution of Amphibians
        • Evolution of Birds
        • Fish and Sharks
        • Natural Selection
        • Primate Language: The Debate
        • What is a Marsupial?
      • Predator vs Prey
      • Producers and Consumers
    • Sustainability
      • Climate Change
      • Global Warming
      • Pollution
        • Air Pollution
        • Land Pollution
        • Microplastics Pollution
        • Water Pollution
      • Recycling
      • Renewable Energy
    • Animal Behavioral Patterns
      • Types of Animal Dormancy
    • What are Species?
      • Amphibians vs Reptiles
      • Animal Reproduction
      • Claws, Nails, and Talons
      • Frogs vs Toads
      • Fur and Hair
      • Gecko Feet
      • Invasive Species
      • IUCN Statuses
      • The Enigmatic Purr
      • Venom vs Poison
      • What is a Marsupial?
    • About the Critterman
  • Daily Critter Facts
    • Amphibian Facts
      • Frog Facts
      • Newt Facts
      • Salamander Facts
      • Toad Facts
    • Arthropod Facts
      • Arachnid Facts
      • Insect Facts
    • Bird Facts
      • Flightless Bird Facts
      • Predatory Bird Facts
      • Scavenger Bird Facts
    • Cryptozoology
    • Fish Facts
      • Cephalopod Facts
      • Crustacean Facts
      • Jellyfish Facts
      • Reefs
      • Shark and Ray Facts
      • Shellfish Facts
    • Flying Mammal Facts
    • Gastropod Facts
    • Land Mammal Facts
      • Canine Facts
      • Feline Facts
      • Lagomorph Facts
      • Marsupial Facts
      • Primate Facts
      • Rodent Facts
      • Ungulate Facts
    • Parasite Facts
    • Reptile Facts
      • Crocodilian Facts
      • Lizard Facts
      • Snake Facts
      • Turtle Facts
    • Sea Mammal Facts
      • Dolphin Facts
      • Porpoise Facts
      • Sea Lion Facts
      • Seal Facts
      • Whale Facts
    • Worm Facts
  • For Teachers
    • Animal Quizzes
      • Amphibians Quiz
      • Bird Quiz
      • Cat Quiz
      • Dolphin Quiz
      • Insect Quiz
      • Reptile Quiz
    • Butterfly Life Cycle
      • Butterfly Metamorphosis
      • World’s Largest Butterfly
      • World’s Largest Moth
    • Metamorphosis – A Frog’s Life Cycle
    • The Cellular Structure of an Animal
    • Insect vs Bug
    • Animal Word Search
    • Coloring Pages
  • Study Guides
    • African Animals
    • Antarctica Animals
    • Asian Animals
    • Australian Animals
    • Central American Animals
    • European Animals
    • North American Animals
    • South American Animals
  • Diseases & Parasites
    • Bsal
    • Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
    • Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
    • The Deadly Chytrid Fungus
    • All About Parasites
    • The Rabies Virus
    • White-Nose Syndrome
  • Contact
    • General Contact
    • Guest Article Submission
      • Guest Articles
        • Guest Articles – 2024
    • What Critter is This?
    • Animal Welfare Organizations
    • Privacy Policy
Subscribe
  • Zoology
    • Ecology
      • Animal Conservation
        • CITES: Protecting Wildlife
        • Endangered Animals
        • Ex Situ Explained
        • In Situ Explained
      • Ecosystems
        • The Biomes
      • Evolution. The Facts.
        • Animal Devolution
        • Arachnids – What are They?
        • Evolution of Amphibians
        • Evolution of Birds
        • Fish and Sharks
        • Natural Selection
        • Primate Language: The Debate
        • What is a Marsupial?
      • Predator vs Prey
      • Producers and Consumers
    • Sustainability
      • Climate Change
      • Global Warming
      • Pollution
        • Air Pollution
        • Land Pollution
        • Microplastics Pollution
        • Water Pollution
      • Recycling
      • Renewable Energy
    • Animal Behavioral Patterns
      • Types of Animal Dormancy
    • What are Species?
      • Amphibians vs Reptiles
      • Animal Reproduction
      • Claws, Nails, and Talons
      • Frogs vs Toads
      • Fur and Hair
      • Gecko Feet
      • Invasive Species
      • IUCN Statuses
      • The Enigmatic Purr
      • Venom vs Poison
      • What is a Marsupial?
    • About the Critterman
  • Daily Critter Facts
    • Amphibian Facts
      • Frog Facts
      • Newt Facts
      • Salamander Facts
      • Toad Facts
    • Arthropod Facts
      • Arachnid Facts
      • Insect Facts
    • Bird Facts
      • Flightless Bird Facts
      • Predatory Bird Facts
      • Scavenger Bird Facts
    • Cryptozoology
    • Fish Facts
      • Cephalopod Facts
      • Crustacean Facts
      • Jellyfish Facts
      • Reefs
      • Shark and Ray Facts
      • Shellfish Facts
    • Flying Mammal Facts
    • Gastropod Facts
    • Land Mammal Facts
      • Canine Facts
      • Feline Facts
      • Lagomorph Facts
      • Marsupial Facts
      • Primate Facts
      • Rodent Facts
      • Ungulate Facts
    • Parasite Facts
    • Reptile Facts
      • Crocodilian Facts
      • Lizard Facts
      • Snake Facts
      • Turtle Facts
    • Sea Mammal Facts
      • Dolphin Facts
      • Porpoise Facts
      • Sea Lion Facts
      • Seal Facts
      • Whale Facts
    • Worm Facts
  • For Teachers
    • Animal Quizzes
      • Amphibians Quiz
      • Bird Quiz
      • Cat Quiz
      • Dolphin Quiz
      • Insect Quiz
      • Reptile Quiz
    • Butterfly Life Cycle
      • Butterfly Metamorphosis
      • World’s Largest Butterfly
      • World’s Largest Moth
    • Metamorphosis – A Frog’s Life Cycle
    • The Cellular Structure of an Animal
    • Insect vs Bug
    • Animal Word Search
    • Coloring Pages
  • Study Guides
    • African Animals
    • Antarctica Animals
    • Asian Animals
    • Australian Animals
    • Central American Animals
    • European Animals
    • North American Animals
    • South American Animals
  • Diseases & Parasites
    • Bsal
    • Canine Distemper Virus (CDV)
    • Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD)
    • The Deadly Chytrid Fungus
    • All About Parasites
    • The Rabies Virus
    • White-Nose Syndrome
  • Contact
    • General Contact
    • Guest Article Submission
      • Guest Articles
        • Guest Articles – 2024
    • What Critter is This?
    • Animal Welfare Organizations
    • Privacy Policy
Hawaiian monk seal

The Hawaiian Monk Seal

  • 12 March, 2024
  • Critterman
  • No Comments
  • 111 Views
  • 1 Likes
Daily Critter Facts, Sea Mammal Facts, Seal Facts

The Hawaiian monk seal is the only native Hawaiian seal and 1 of only 2 monk seal species. The other is the Mediterranean monk seal. The majority of these critters can be found among the Northwest Hawaiian Islands. But a smaller, yet growing population can be found along the primary Hawaiian Island chain. Due to overfishing; bycatch (getting caught in fishing nets); human interference via recreational activities, military exercises, and shipping lanes; which can cause vehicle strike – being hit, injured, and/or killed by vehicles); invasive species (and with them disease); pollution; and climate change, these seals are listed as Endangered by the IUCN.

First the Stats…

Scientific name: Neomonachus schauinslandi
Weight: Up to 594 lbs.
Length: Up to 7.9 feet
Lifespan: Up to 30 years

Now on to the Facts!

1.) There are only an estimated 1,300 wild individuals remaining, and overall those numbers are decreasing.

2.) At 1 time there was a 3rd species of monk seal, the Caribbean monk seal, but sadly those are now extinct.

3.) A group of seals is called a bob, colony, harem, herd, pod, or rookery.

4.) These seals are solitary and only come together to breed. That being said, they can be found, albeit appropriately separated from each other, basking in small colonies along the beaches.

5.) The Hawaiian monk seals are nocturnal (active at night).

But wait, there’s more on the Hawaiian monk seal!

6.) This seal species is considered earless. They have ears, but they just aren’t visible.

7.) These critters are not migratory, but will travel hundreds of miles in search of food.

Did you know…?
They can dive to depths of up to 1,800+ feet!

8.) Reef dwelling bony fishes, cephalopods, and crustaceans – primarily lobsters are all on the menu. This makes them, like all seals, piscivores (eat aquatic life).

9.) Hawaiian monk seals are polygynous (1 male mates with multiple females).

10.) Mating season lasts from June – August, each year.

But wait, there’s still more on the Hawaiian monk seal!

11.) Females undergo up to a 9 month gestation (pregnancy) that yields a single pup.

12.) Before birthing her pup, the female must gorge herself on food as, when the pup is born, she will not eat for up to 6 weeks; while nursing.

Did you know…?
Sans competition for food, pups also have to contend with aggressive males that mob females during mating season. This mobbing behavior can cause pup and even adult female deaths, via trampling and crushing.

13.) As soon as she is done nursing her pup, mom will desert her pup to return to the sea to feed. At this time, the pup is on its own.

14.) Both males and females are reproductively mature at 4 – 10 years of age.

15.) Pups also have to contend with other apex predators, like barracudas, jacks, and sharks for available food.

But wait, there’s still a little more on the Hawaiian monk seal!

16.) Sharks are their main predators.

17.) Besides the Hawaiian monk seals, Hawaiian hoary bats are the only other endemic mammalian species among the Hawaiian Islands.

Did you know…?
These seals can hold their breathe for up to 20 minutes.

18.) Their common name hails from the short hairs on their head which resemble a monk’s hair style.

19.) The native Hawaiians call these seals ʻIlio-holo-i-ka-uaua which translates to “dog that runs in rough water.”

20.) Each year monk seals undergo what is termed as a catastrophic molt. This is where they will shed their outer layer of skin. During this time, they remain on the beach for up to 10+ days before returning to the ocean to feed.

21.) Some Hawaiian monk seals, like manatees, will spend so much time in the ocean that algae begins to grow on their fur; giving them a green tint.

Now a Short Hawaiian Monk Seal Video!

Be sure to share & comment below! Also, check out the Critter Science YouTube channel. Videos added regularly!

Want to suggest a critter for me to write about? Let me know here.

Some source material acquired from: Wikipedia & IUCN

Photo credit: Kent Backman

earlessearless sealendangeredHawaiian monk sealHawaiian sealislandislandsmammalmonkmonk sealoceanpiscivoreseal
Critterman

With over 50 years of critter experience to my credit and hundreds of zoology teaching hours to people around the world, I have amassed not only a continuing thirst for critter knowledge but a desire to teach others all I can about the majesty and wonder of our natural world. Critter Science is a culmination of such knowledge. I have hands on as well as book acquired intel on all kinds of critters. Whether they're on land, sea, or in the air. I will never say that I know everything about all animals. That's impossible, even for a savant. But, that being said, ask me any animal question and I'll answer it. If I don't know the answer, I'll get an answer for you!

The Alluring Butterflyfish
The European Rabbit
Related Posts
  • Nepal house martin
    The Nepal House Martin 4 July, 2025
  • booted eagle
    The Booted Eagle 3 July, 2025
  • Wyoming toad
    The Wyoming Toad 2 July, 2025
  • Daily Critter Facts
  • Guest Articles
  • BYET
  • Teachers
  • Study Guides
  • Contact

Copyright © 2025, Critter Science. All Rights Reserved.