Hawaiian Monk Seal — Kenyon and Rice 
Fig. 15. Cross section of molted hair and epidermis 
from an adult monk seal. The old faded hair protrudes 
8-10 mm. above and the roots 2 mm. below the thin 
epidermal tissue. Kure Atoll, June 5, 1957 (KWK 
57-20-8). 
estimate was first made visually. At the end 
of the nursing period, it was estimated that 
the mother’s weight approximated that of the 
weighed adult male (380 pounds). Since her 
pup gained approximately 100 pounds during 
the 37-day nursing period and it is presumed 
that the mother lost about 2 pounds for every 
1 gained by her pup {cf. Laws, 1953), we 
considered the original estimate quite valid. 
ASSOCIATIONS WITH OTHER ORGANISMS 
Parasites 
Samples of all parasites found in an adult 
male monk seal, killed on February 2, 1957, 
at Midway Atoll, were preserved and dis- 
tributed through Dr. R. A. Rausch to two 
other specialists. In the future, certain of 
their findings may be published. A general 
synopsis of the information now available 
is presented. 
247 
Nematodes, Contracaecum turgidum: The 
esophagus (sample 1, USNM Helm. Coll. 
38081) contained a number of minute larvae 
and a few adults which were much smaller 
than the approximately 200 individuals which 
occupied the stomach (sample 2, USNM 
Helm. Coll. 38080). In addition, a number of 
individuals were collected from the anterior 
and posterior portions of the small intestine. 
Specimens were identified by Mrs. M. B. 
Chitwood. This species was originally de- 
scribed by Chapin from material collected 
from the Hawaiian monk seal in 1925. The 
genus has been recorded from many pinnipeds 
of the Pacific coast. 
Acanthocephalans, Corynosoma sp.: Speci- 
mens were collected from the anterior portion 
of the small intestine where they resembled 
grains of white sand attached to the mucosa. 
Dr. Yves J. Golvan suspects them of being 
undescribed. The genus is widely distributed 
in marine mammals. 
Cestodes, Diphyllobothrium sp.: The small 
intestine was heavily infested with cestodes. 
Our field notes indicate that the smaller 
worms were found in the anterior part of the 
small intestine while the larger ones were in 
Fig. 16. Weighing male monk seal pup MS- 12. 
Pups and yearlings were weighed on one or a combi- 
nation of two 100-pound-capacity spring scales. Mid- 
way Atoll, May 29, 1957 (KWK 57-18-16). 
