Caribbean Monk Seal

Academy Award: 
Last Recorded Sighting: 
1952
Caribbean Monk Seal
Main Factors of D6's Extinction: 
Human Consumption
Over-Fishing
Environment Changes
Commercial Over-Harvesting
Lack of Dietary Requirements
Habitat Destruction

IDENTIFICATION: The Caribbean Monk Seal or West Indian Monk Seal (Monachus tropicalis), is an extinct species of seal. It is the only seal ever known to be native to the Caribbean sea and the Gulf of Mexico. The last verified recorded sighting occurred in 1952 at Serranilla Bank. On June 6, 2008, after five years of futile efforts to find or confirm sightings of any Caribbean monk seals, the U.S. government announced that the species is officially extinct and the only seal to vanish due to human causes.

NOTE: A collection of Caribbean Monk Seal bones can be found at the Tropical Crane Point Hammock Museum in Key Vaca.

Species in Action: 
Habitat and Lifestyle: 
These pinnipeds lived in marine environment, spending much of their time in the water and occupying rocky and sandy coastlines for shelter and breeding. Their diet included lobsters, octopus, and reef fish. Like other true seals, the Caribbean Monk Seal was sluggish on land. Its lack of fear for man and an unaggressive and curious nature also contributed to its demise.
Genus: 
Monachus tropicalis
Maximum Size: 
350cm
Average Size: 
310cm
325cm
Depth: 
0.0metres
50.0metres
Global Distribution: 
Caribbean Sea, Gulf Of Mexico
Former Hotspot: 
Serranilla Bank between Honduras and Jamaica
Unique Physique: 
The Caribbean Monk Seal was a relatively large seal (6-9 feet) with rolls of fat around its neck and brown pelage that faded to a yellow-white color on the stomach. The soles and palms were naked, with the nails on the anterior digits well developed. The males reached a length of about 3.25 meters and weighed up to 200 kilograms. Displaying sexual dimorphism, the females of this species were generally smaller than males. [edit]
Reproduction & Longevity: 
Very little is known about the reproduction behavior and longevity of this animal. Live pups were likely born in early December because several females killed in the Yucatan during this time of the year had well-developed fetuses. It is believed that this animal's average lifespan was approximately 20 years.
Visual ID: 
Efforts to Conserve Species: 
None
Organisation(s) Supporting Conservation Measures: 
NOAA's Fisheries Service
D6 Extinction Stats: 
In the United States, the last recorded sighting of this marine mammal occurred in 1932 off the Texas coast. The very last reliable records of this species are of a small colony at Serranilla Bank between Honduras and Jamaica in 1952.[1] Unconfirmed sightings of Caribbean Monk Seals by local fishermen and divers are relatively common in Haiti and Jamaica, but two recent scientific expeditions failed to find any sign of this animal. It is possible that the mammal still exists, but some biologists strongly believe that the sightings are of wandering Hooded Seals, which have been positively identified on archipelagos such as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. On April 22, 2009, The History Channel aired an episode of Monster Quest which hypothesized that an unidentified sea creature videotaped in the Intracoastal Waterway of Florida's southeastern coast could possibly be the extinct Carribbean Monk Seal. No conclusive evidence has yet emerged in support of this contention, however, and opposing hypotheses asserted the creature was simply a misidentified, yet common to the area, West Indian Manatee.
Countries Responsible for Catastrophe: 
Main countries include: U.S.A., Mexico, Honduras, Jamaica, Haiti, Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico
National Responses to Future Marine Conservation Issues: 
None
How We Deep Sixed Them: 
During his 1494 voyage, Christopher Columbus described the Caribbean Monk Seal as a "sea-wolf." During that voyage, eight seals were killed for their meat. The region was soon colonized, and whatever habitat this species had was lost. People also began exploiting it commercially for its oil, and less frequently, for its meat. It went extinct in the 1950s from lack of food.
Hunters in Action: