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\nOver the years, there has been much confusion over the origins of the monk seal’s name, as well as many imaginative explanations. Here are a few to be going on with. Can you identify the correct answer? If you think you can, please post your answer below. We’ll be posting our reply about a week from now.<\/p>\n
How did the Monk Seal Find its Name?<\/strong><\/p>\n (1)<\/strong> Because the black seal with the white belly patch was reminiscent of the robes of a monastic community.<\/p>\n (2)<\/strong> Because the monk seal is shy and retiring, living a “monastic” lifestyle.<\/p>\n (3)<\/strong> Because of the folds of fat around the neck of the seal were reminiscent of a monk’s hood or scapular.<\/p>\n (4)<\/strong> Because the rows of seals stretched out lazily on the sands reminded Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder of a procession of hooded monks.<\/p>\n (5)<\/strong> None of the above.<\/p>\n To answer these and other historical puzzles on the Mediterranean monk seal, you may wish to read our illustrated two-volume “Monk Seal Histories”, available here in PDF format<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Over the years, there has been much confusion over the origins of the monk seal’s name, as well as many imaginative explanations. Here are a few to be going on with. Can you identify the correct answer? If you think you can, please post your answer below. We’ll be posting our reply about a week … <\/p>\n