81. Mediterranean Monk Seal, Monachus monachus (Hermann, 1779)

(IUCN Red List: EN)

Distribution: Rare; confined to the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent coasts of the Atlantic Ocean. Recorded in the northern part of the Syrian coast. (Fig. 88)

Previous records: Ras Al-Baseet by Mo et al. (2003) and Jony & Ibrahim (2006).

Recent records: Locally most found to the northern part of the Syrian coast (see Güçlüsoy & Savas 2003), i.e., north of Latakia, mainly near the Research Institute (Côte d’Azur), Burj Islam and the area between Um et-Tiur and Ras Al-Baseet (2004–2023), and Wadi Qandil (2013).