Mediterranean Monk Seal, Monachus monachus

Photo category:
Coasts
Vertebrates specimen collection
Natural History Museum of Crete exhibition

Photo taken by:
Trichas, A.
Photo taken date:
December 2002

Mediterranean Monk Seal

Carnivores

Mammals

Animals

Vertebrates

Coasts diorama

Photo of a Mediterranean Monk Seal, Monachus monachus. This Monk Seal was found in 1995, during a scientific expedition to Cretan islets, carried out by the researchers of the Natural History Museum of Crete. It was found drowned a few meters off the coast of Dia island. It had been captured in fishermens’ nets and was suffocated. The researchers of the museum collected the dead animal, and soon they found out it was pregnant. The mature animal and the embryo (a few months old) where stuffed and now they are both exhibited in NHMC Exhibition Halls.