Biology

Active in the day, the Mediterranean monk seal feeds on a variety of fish and cephalopods (such as squid and octopus) (9). Individuals reach sexual maturity at five to six years of age, and mating occurs between September and November, when females haul-out in caves to give birth to a single pup that weighs between 16 and 18 kilograms (2). While the suckling time may be up to four months, the female will remain with her pup for up to three years (11). The social organisation of the Mediterranean monk seal is not known, but groups tend to form in breeding caves (2).