The Mediterranean monk seal is a true seal in the family Phocidae and, as of 2026, survives in isolated subpopulations totaling an estimated 800 to 1,000 individuals across the Mediterranean, especially the Aegean Sea, the Madeira archipelago, and the Cabo Blanco area of the northeastern Atlantic spanning Mauritania and Western Sahara. It is believed to be the world's rarest pinniped species and the only living member of the genus Monachus, the family's other two monk seal species now placed in the genus Neomonachus. This description is adapted from Wikipedia contributors under CC BY-SA 4.0; changes were made. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/
Facts
Classification
System (Realm) Living or Extinct Scientific Name Conservation Status Connections
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: Africa, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Greece, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Morocco, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Portugal, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Ukraine, found in there.
Sources
1. EltonTraits 1.0 (Wilman et al. 2014)
2. GBIF Species API
3. Wikidata: Monachus
WikidataStatements section, conservation status (P141)
IUCN Red List conservation status (Wikidata property P141): vulnerable.
- Wikidata Q208549 (P225 taxon name)
- Child Taxon Of: Phocidae, Wikidata parent-taxon (P171) chain
View the Source 4. Wikipedia: Mediterranean monk seal
Speciesbox infobox, conservation status parameterQuote, Speciesbox infobox, conservation status parameter
status = VU
Mediterranean monk seal (Wikipedia)
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