the single ones in tropical and subtropical seas of occurring dog-seals puts the monk-seals with its three very rare and partially already extinct representatives:
1. Mediterranean-monk-seal (Monachus monachus), on which approximately 500 animals only live as far as to the Canary islands and Madeira in the black sea, in the Mediterranean and in the Atlantic of Morocco;
2. Caribbean monk-seal (Monachus tropicalis), from which no more copies were proved for a long time, that it is regarded as extinct.
As 3. We finally know type the Hawaii-monk-seal (Monachus schauinslandi), that already at beginning of the 20. It was wiped out century until on few copies and only through strict precautions of the US-American government with until today approximately 1500 animals survived. it only lives in the waters around Hawaii.
Shape Monk-seals are 230-380 cm long with a weight from until 320 kg. they possess front-limbs with powerful, flat claws. The rear-fins however are busy with weak nails, that strongly extended outer toes can also lack, however, at this. The fur of the seals is brown and brightened unterseits, so that the impression of a cowl originates.
Reproduction and continuance Since the monk-seals don't hike in contrast to the seals but live in solid colonies and the same combination and throw-places always visit, they fell the human being, that mercilessly bejagte, especially easily to the victim, mainly it to the oil-production. Also, it is feared with the fishers of the means-sea as food-competitor and net-destroyers. The copies, that survived this hunt, were not still sure before prosecution, however, because at the throw-time, brutal seal-club of its boys took hold and still often skinned these with alive body from. Today, the monk-seals admittedly are completely protected, but the continuances nevertheless decrease further since its throw-places are increasingly populated by tourists.
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