The Hawaiian monk seal is one of only two current monk seal species. A third species, the … To begin with, Hawaiian Monk Seals are endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, meaning they aren’t found anywhere else on Earth. [2] The Hawaiian monk seal is one of two remaining monk seal species; the other is the Mediterranean monk seal. Hawaiian Monk Seals ~ Hawaiian Marine Life:: MarineBio Video Library. The Hawaiian monk seal is named for its folds of skin that somewhat resemble a monk's cowl, and because it’s usually seen alone or in small groups. Only 2 species of monk seals survive in the world today. Monachus schauinslandi is the Hawaiian Monk Seal Latin name Pups are … According to the IUCN Red List, only 632 mature individuals were identified on the species' last assessment in 2014. The Isthmus of Panama closed the seaway 3 Mya. Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, less than 1,100 Hawaiian monk seals remain. The Hawaiian name for the monk seal is Ilio-holo-i-ka-uaua, meaning dog running in the rough seas. The Hawaiian Monk Seal is a critically endangered species. The Hawaiian monk seal, as the name suggests, lives solely in the Hawaiian archipelago. Endemic to the Hawaiian Islands, less than 1,100 Hawaiian monk seals remain. The Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi, formerly Monachus schauinslandi), is an endangered species of earless seal in the family Phocidae that is endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. The Hawaiian Monk Seal is an endangered seal that is endemic to the waters around the Hawaiian Islands. The head and the flippers are a darker gray or brownish in color. As you might guess from their name, Hawaiian monk seals live in Hawaii and no place else in the world. Description & Behavior. They have a very light gray coloring to their bodies. These small islands and atolls are either uninhabited or little-used by humans. The Hawaiian monk seal is a pinniped, a member of the group of marine mammals that includes the seals, sea lions, fur seals, and walruses. > About Hawaiian Monk Seals The Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schauinslandi) is the only truly tropical seal in the world and it is critically endangered. The Hawaiian monk seal is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world, and the rarest seal or sea lion in US waters. The Hawaiian monk seal is a true seal that is generally restricted to the uninhabited northwest Hawaiian Islands, with small numbers of individuals living in the main Hawaiian chain. You will find that the overall physical appearance of the Hawaiian Monk Seal makes it look much different from the other species of seals.