Monachus monachus   (Hermann, 1779)

Mediterranean monk seal

Native range | All suitable habitat | Point map | Year 2050
This map was computer-generated and has not yet been reviewed.
Monachus monachus  AquaMaps  Data sources: GBIF OBIS
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Monachus monachus

Classification / Names Common names | Synonyms | CoL | ITIS | WoRMS

Mammalia | Carnivora | Phocidae

Environment: milieu / climate zone / depth range / distribution range Ecology

Bathydemersal.  Subtropical; 90°N - 0°S, 180°W - 180°E

Distribution Countries | FAO areas | Ecosystems | Occurrences | Introductions

Eastern Atlantic and the Mediterranean and Black Sea.

Length at first maturity / Size / Weight / Age

Maturity: Lm ?  range ? - ? cm Max length : 280 cm TL male/unsexed; (Ref. 1394); max. published weight: 400.0 kg (Ref. 1394); max. reported age: 36 years (Ref. 130718)

Biology     Glossary (e.g. epibenthic)

Inhabits rocky coastlines, with a preference for sea caves and grottos that are generally inaccessible from land (and sometimes have only submarine entrances). In West Africa, they come ashore on open beaches. Feeds on octopus, at least 1 type of ray, and a variety of fishes (Ref. 1394). Found in rocky coastlines, with a preference for sea caves and grottos that are generally inaccessible from land (and sometimes have only submarine entrances). In West Africa, they come ashore on open beaches. Feeds on octopus, at least 1 type of ray, and a variety of fishes (Ref. 1394).

Life cycle and mating behavior Maturity | Reproduction | Spawning | Eggs | Fecundity | Larvae

Main reference References | Coordinator | Collaborators

Jefferson, T.A., S. Leatherwood and M.A. Webber. 1993. (Ref. 1394)

IUCN Red List Status (Ref. 130435)

  Vulnerable (VU) (D1); Date assessed: 27 June 2023

CITES status (Ref. 108899)

Appendix I: International trade banned

CMS (Ref. 116361)

Appendix I & II: Endangered migratory species conserved through agreements

Threat to humans

Human uses

Fisheries: commercial
FAO - Fisheries: species profile | FishSource | Sea Around Us

Tools

E-book | Field guide

More information

Countries
FAO areas
Ecosystems
Occurrences
Introductions
Stocks
Ecology
Diet
Food items
Common names
Synonyms
Predators
Reproduction
Maturity
Spawning
Fecundity
Eggs
Egg development
Age/Size
Growth
Length-weight
Length-length
Morphology
Larvae
Abundance
References
Mass conversion
Collaborators
Pictures

Internet sources

BHL | BOLD Systems | CISTI | DiscoverLife | FAO(Fisheries: species profile; publication : search) | Fishipedia | GenBank (genome, nucleotide) | GloBI | Gomexsi | Google Books | Google Scholar | Google | PubMed | Tree of Life | Wikipedia (Go, Search) | Zoological Record

Estimates based on models

Preferred temperature (Ref. 115969): 13.1 - 15.5, mean 13.9 (based on 364 cells).
Resilience (Ref. 69278): Very Low, minimum population doubling time more than 14 years (K=0.35; tm=5; tmax=36).
Vulnerability (Ref. 71543): Very high vulnerability (90 of 100).
Price category (Ref. 80766): Unknown.