Monk Seals Understanding Increases with New Study
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| Study reveals differences between the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Hawaiian Monk Seals are profound. |
Mongabay reported on July 7th on the new
classification for Monk Seals. Kauái News assures that “there are Monk Seals
and there are Monk Seals”.
Today globally there are three main species of Monk Seals,
the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and the Hawaiian Monk Seals. For years
scientists have been trying to understand the connection between the three species.
The investigation led by Dr. Kristofer Helgen from the Smithsonian
Institution’s National Museum of Natural History has accomplished a
breakthrough in this understanding. The study reached such dimensions that a
new genus called Neomonachus had to be created to classify Monk Seals.
Strange as it may sound the Caribbean waters were once
full of Caribbean Monk Seal. The specie became extinct in the 1950s approximately
due to overhunting. But the question has always been what is the connection
between the three Monk Seals.
To understand the dimensions of evolution it is
necessary to understand that monk seals belong to the Pinnipedia superfamily (one
of three superfamilies’ of marine mammals adapted to ocean life). In turn and
further below in the organization of the tree of like Monk Seals belong to the
Phocidae family a group composed strictly by seals. Today there are 19 species
living of this family –some in danger of extinction, but historically over 20
species of this family have been extinct including the Caribbean Monk Seal. Pinnnipeds
are believed to descend from the family of bears and other land organisms which
took to ocean adaptation. The pinnipedia most ancient fossils discovered
belongs to the Miocene -15 million years ago. All Monk Seals belong to the Pinnipedia
family to which other species of seals belong to as well
Dr Kristofer Helgen from the Smithsonian Institution’s
National Museum of Natural History came to answer the question on how the three
species of Monk Seals are connected.
We understand the definition of a specie as that group
which contains a unique DNA code and as a population which is capable of
reproducing and producing offsprings capable of reproducing among themselves
successfully. In turn species –if conditions are appropriate mutate over time
forming new species.
Genetic evidence signals that the original Monk Seal
belongs to Europe and Africa. 6.4 million years ago these “Original Monk Seals”
began swimming and navigating their way into the Caribbean. Over time and space
the “Original Monk Seals” evolved into the Mediterranean Monk Seals and those
that reached the Caribbean became the Caribbean Seals. In those days Monk Seals
would have been able to navigate through America and into the Pacific as the Panamanian
Bridge had not risen yet. Once the bridge of the Americas rose about 3.6
million years ago the populations of the Caribbean Seal became isolated giving
way in the Pacific waters to a new specie over time –the Hawaiian Seal –a 6.5
million year old descend of “Original Monk Seal” a specie which has witnessed
the passing of Eons.
Dr Kristofer Helgen who managed to obtain DNA samples
of the extinct Caribbean Seal from century-old Monk Seal skins in the
collections of Smithsonian Institution explained that this event allowed the “two
groups of seals to go their own genetic ways”.
According to the scientists, the molecular and
morphological differences between the Mediterranean species and the two New
World species (Caribbean and Hawaiian) are profound. This led them to classify
the Caribbean and Hawaiian monk seals in a new genus, Neomonachus.
“Scientists have long understood that monk seals are
very special animals. This study is exciting because it gives us a clearer view
of their evolution and provides us with new context that highlights the
importance of conserving these remarkable and endangered seals,” Dr Helgen
concluded.
Today Monk Seals face new challenges for new times.
They are in the UICN Red List for “Critically Endangered Species. Seals and not
just Monk Seals around the world have been hunted massively not only for food
but sought out for oil -fuel which ignited the lights of the cities before
electricity came to be. Today threats come in different forms for seals such as
over-fishing, fishing nets, development, marine corridor deficits and other
impacts.
