Hawaiian Monk Seal

Description:

The Hawaiian monk seal, , is an endangered species of earless seal in the Phocidae family that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands.

Habitat:

The majority of the Hawaiian monk seal population can be found around the Northwest Hawaiian Islands but a small and growing population lives around the main Hawaiian Islands. These seals spend two-thirds of their time at sea. Early studies (done at Midway Atoll) concluded that they frequently stayed inside the lagoons as opposed to the deep ocean, because of the larger abundance of fish found in their coral reefs. However, recent use of animal-born video imaging, temperature/depth recorders, and satellite telemetry has shown that monk seals actually spend much more time foraging in deeper water outside the reefs at subphotic depths of 300 metres (160 fathoms) or more. Hawaiian monk seals breed and haul-out on sand, corals, and volcanic rock; sandy beaches are more commonly used for pupping. Due to the immense distance separating the Hawaiian Islands from other land masses capable of supporting the Hawaiian monk seal, its habitat is limited to the Hawaiian Islands.

Notes:

I took this while on a walk one morning on my honeymoon. This location is on a beach in Kauai near Kaui Sands Hotel. I carefully walked around to the water so I wouldn't disturb this seal as it slept. I went to get my wife and it had already been taped off by the time I got back. Didn't move once the whole time I was there.