Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk project (HEAR)

Monachus schauinslandi
(Phocidae)

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Species description or overview Taxonomy & nomenclature Federal endangered/threatened status Threats to this species Recovery & restoration
Legislation/regulation Books In the news Full-text articles  

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An adult monk seal is usually dark gray or brown with a light gray or yellow belly. Adults can weigh anywhere from 375 to 500 pounds; adult females are generally larger than males. Pups are jet black and usually weigh 25 to 30 pounds at birth and weigh up to 132 to 198 pounds within five to six weeks. The monk seal's common name is derived from its folds of skin that look like a monk's hood, and because it spends most of its time alone or in very small groups.  Monachus schauinslandi is native to the Hawaiian Archipelago (endemic). 


Species description or overview

Saving the Hawaiian monk seal
The Hawaiian monk seal's endangered species profile, natural history, and documents related to its protected status and habitat, are provided by the Center for Biological Diversity.


Taxonomy & nomenclature

Monachus schauinslandi information from ITIS
The Integrated Taxonomic Information System ITIS provides authoritative taxonomic information on Monachus schauinslandi, as well as other plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.


Federal endangered/threatened status

Monachus schauinslandi species profile from USFWS
A species profile for Monachus schauinslandi is provided by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, including links to information regarding the federal endangered/threatened status of this species.

New habitat protections proposed for endangered Hawaiian monk seals
The federal government's proposal to designate more than 11,000 square miles of critical habitat for endangered Hawaiian monk seals is summarized by the Center for Biological Diversity (6/2011).

NOAA proposes expanding monk seal critical habitat
Expanding critical habitat for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal to include parts of the main Hawaiian Islands is proposed by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Hawaii News Now, 6/2/2011).


Threats to this species

Saving the Hawaiian monk seal
The Hawaiian monk seal's endangered species profile, natural history, and documents related to its protected status and habitat, are provided by the Center for Biological Diversity.


Recovery & restoration

New habitat protections proposed for endangered Hawaiian monk seals
The federal government's proposal to designate more than 11,000 square miles of critical habitat for endangered Hawaiian monk seals is summarized by the Center for Biological Diversity (6/2011).

Hawaiian monk seals threats to survival
A petition to revise critical habitat for the Hawaiian monk seal under the Endangered Species Act and information about the threats to the monk seal are from KAHEA and Center for Biological Diversity.

NOAA proposes expanding monk seal critical habitat
Expanding critical habitat for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal to include parts of the main Hawaiian Islands is proposed by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Hawaii News Now, 6/2/2011).


Legislation/regulation

NOAA proposes expanding monk seal critical habitat
Expanding critical habitat for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal to include parts of the main Hawaiian Islands is proposed by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Hawaii News Now, 6/2/2011).


Books

Mammals in Hawaii, second edition
Tomich, P. Quentin. 1986. Mammals in Hawaii, second edition. Bernice P. Bishop Museum Special Publication 76. Honolulu: Bishop Museum Press. 375 pp. ISBN: 0-93087-10-2.

Natural history of Nihoa and Necker Islands (citation)
The Nihoa and Necker Islands Biological Survey Handbook citation, list of taxa covered in this Bishop Museum publication, and link to purchase information are on the HEAR bibliography site.


In the news

NOAA proposes expanding monk seal critical habitat
Expanding critical habitat for the endangered Hawaiian monk seal to include parts of the main Hawaiian Islands is proposed by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Hawaii News Now, 6/2/2011).

New habitat protections proposed for endangered Hawaiian monk seals
The federal government's proposal to designate more than 11,000 square miles of critical habitat for endangered Hawaiian monk seals is summarized by the Center for Biological Diversity (6/2011).

Vision keeps monk seal in captivity
KP2, the first Hawaiian monk seal pup reared by humans from birth, and who was found "playing rough" with people on Molokai, has lost his sight and will not be re-released into the wild (Honolulu Star Bulletin, 10/20/2009).


Full-text articles

Alien plant invasions in native ecosystems of Hawaii: Management and research
Stone, Charles P., Clifford W. Smith, and J. Timothy Tunison (eds.) . 1992. Alien plant invasions in native ecosystems of Hawaii: Management and research. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Cooperative National Park Resources Studies Unit. ISBN: 0-8248-1474-6.


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The Hawaiian Ecosystems at Risk (HEAR) project was historically funded by the Pacific Basin Information Node (PBIN) of the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) through PIERC (USGS) with support from HCSU (UH Hilo). More details are available online. Pacific Basin Information Node (PBIN) National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII)

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