A seal of warm shores
Caribbean monk seals had rounded heads, short muzzles, and brown coats that faded underneath. They hauled out on sandy islands, reefs, and remote beaches. Unlike seals tied to cold seas, they lived entirely within tropical and subtropical waters. Fish and other marine prey supported them around reefs and shallow banks.
Why the species vanished
Sailors and hunters killed the seals for oil and food from the earliest colonial voyages onward. Later collectors also took animals, while fishing and coastal disturbance reduced safety and prey. Their habit of resting openly made colonies easy to find. Small remaining groups couldn’t recover from repeated losses.
Evidence after the last sightings
The last accepted records came from the western Caribbean during the twentieth century. Later searches and unconfirmed reports didn’t produce dependable evidence of survival. Historical specimens and accounts now define the known range, including Florida and the Gulf. Those records describe former presence, not a living population today.
