First Observations of Aquatic Sleep in the Mediterranean Monk Seal (Monachus monachus)

• Published in: Aquatic mammals Vol. 43; no. 1; pp. 82 - 86
• Main Authors: Karamanlidis, Alexandros A, Lyamin, Oleg, Adamantopoulou, Stella, Dendrinos, Panagiotis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Moline Aquatic Mammals Journal, NFP 01.01.2017; Aquatic Mammals
• Subjects: Animal behavior; Caves; Marine; Marine mammals; Monachus monachus; Observations; Pinnipedia; Seasons; Sleep; Studies; Greece; MED, Aegean Sea; MED; MED, Greece; MED, Ionian Sea
• ISSN: 0167-5427; 1996-7292
• DOI: 10.1578/AM.43.1.2017.82

The Mediterranean monk seal (Monachus monachus) is the only resident pinniped in the Mediterranean Sea. With fewer than 700 individuals worldwide, the species is listed as "Endangered" by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. The largest Mediterranean monk seal subpopulation occurs mainly on the islands of the Aegean and Ionian Seas and along the coasts of mainland Greece. Improvement in the understanding of its behaviour is necessary to design and implement effective conservation measures that will safeguard the future of the Mediterranean monk seal in Greece. Research on the behaviour of the Mediterranean monk seal in Greece has focused mainly on monk seals on land when using marine caves for resting and pupping. Relatively little is known about the behaviour of the species at sea. Herein, six observations of monk seals sleeping at sea are reported, and the importance of understanding their behaviour to shape the conservation strategy for the Mediterranean monk seal in Greece is evaluated.