Name
Monachus monachus
Mediterranean monk seal
Framing
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Mammalia
Subclass: Theria
Infraclass: Eutheria
Order: Carnivora
Suborder: Caniformia
Family: Phocidae
Genus: Monachus
Species: monachus
Habitat
Marine, from the pelagic zone to coastal marine areas
Feeding
Carnivorous (mainly ingests cephalopods and fish)
Distribution
It was widespread in the Mediterranean, Atlantic coast (from Gibraltar to Mauritania) and Macaronesia. Currently much smaller distribution
Conservation status
Globally Endangered (EN) (IUCN, 2015), with an increasing trend in its populations (until recently it was classified as Critically Endangered, CR). Officially declared extinct in Spain (BOE nº 195 of 2018).
Additional information
Broad, rounded head. Dorsal colouring generally uniform (brown, black or grey), with light spotting on the ventral side.
Additional information
Bibliography
- Cebrián Menchero, D. (1998). La foca monje (Monachus monachus Hermann 1779) en el Mediterráneo oriental (Grecia y Croacia). Tesis Doctoral. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Disponible en biblioteca UGR.
- González. L. M. (2007). Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1799). En Atlas y Libro Rojo de los Mamíferos terrestres de España (pp. 315-320). Palomo, L. J., Gisbert, J., & Blanco, J. C. (eds). Dirección General de Biodiversidad – SECEM-SECEMU. Accesible en: https://www.miteco.gob.es/es/biodiversidad/temas/inventarios-nacionales/ieet_mami_monachus_monachus_tcm30-99831.pdf
- González, L. M., Fernández-de-Larrinoa, P., Mas-Hernández, J., M'Barek, H., Cedenilla, M. A., Moumni, A., M'Hamed, I., Jiddou, A. M., Araujo, A., Costa-Neves, H., Pires, R. (2006). El plan de acción para la recuperación de la foca monje del Mediterráneo en el Atlántico oriental. Organismo Autónomo de Parques Nacionales, Ministerio de Medio Ambiente. Disponible en biblioteca UGR.