The Monk Seal was large for its family measuring 7-8 feet long and weighing around 400lbs. The female was slightly smaller than the male. They were predominantly brown in colour, with the underparts a cream colour. occasionally the fur would be grizzled. It was a very lethargic creature, especially on land and fed on slow moving reef fish.
Later explorers were also to encounter these unique creatures. In 1675, Dampier wrote in his 'Voyage to the Bay of Campeachy' (off the Alacrane Reef) "Here are many seals: they come up to sun themselves on only two or three of the islands, I don't know exactly (if they are) of the same kind with those in colder climates, but ....they always live where there is plenty of fish."
Being so sluggish, algae even grew over its fur and greenish coloured specimens were quite common!
This sea-wolf and seal was in fact the Caribbean Monk Seal. His accounts suggest that the Caribbean Monk Seal existed in thousands in the Bahamas alone......one is left to wonder at the total original population when their range covered not only the Bahamas, but the Gulf of Mexico, the Caribbean Sea and areas of the sea off the coast of Florida.
