1 Lira of Turkey 2013 UNC - Monk Seal

The genus Monachus comprises three species of monk seals, two of which are critically endangered: Monachus monachus (Mediterranean monk seal) and Monachus schauinslandi (Hawaiian monk seal). A third species, Monachus tropicalis (Caribbean monk seal), has been extinct since around 1950. The surviving species show very low genetic variations. In Monachus monachus, males and females have reversed size ratios compared to the Caribbean monk seal. The weight differences between the species underscore the urgent need for conservation to prevent the imminent extinction of the Monachus genus, primarily threatened by overfishing, habitat loss, and other human pressures. Conservation and habitat protection measures are crucial to ensure the long-term survival of these rare species.