Mediterranean Monk Seal [Monachus monachus]
Description
The Mediterranean Monk Seal is one of the world's rarest marine mammals, with an estimated population of 700. It is a pinniped that is heavily-bodied, with males reaching up to 320 cm in length. The species is characterized by a blackish or dark brown color in males, and a dark brown with patches of gray in females. They inhabit coastal caves and isolated rocky outcrops, and are known to be solitary and shy, avoiding human interaction.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Mammals
Mammalia
|
| Order |
Carnivorans
Carnivora
|
| Family |
Earless Seals
Phocidae
|
| Genus |
Monk Seals
Monachus
|