Monk Seal Acoustic Breakthrough: HIMB Study Quadruples Known Call Types and Detects Novel Communication Strategy
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November 13, 2025Monk Seal Acoustic Breakthrough: HIMB Study Quadruples Known Call Types and Detects Novel Communication Strategy
By Maria Frostic
New research led by UH Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) Marine Mammal Research Program (MMRP) has drastically increased our understanding of Hawaiian monk seal (Neomonachus schauinslandi) underwater sound production, revealing a vocal repertoire far more complex than previously described. Published in Royal Society Open Science, the study analyzed thousands of hours of passive acoustic data and identified 25 distinct underwater vocalizations, a dramatic increase from the six calls previously known from seals in human care. The team also found that Hawaiian monk seals produce these low-frequency calls throughout the day, with consistent vocal types detected across the Hawaiian Archipelago and higher calling rates at sites with greater seal abundance. This breakthrough discovery establishes a baseline for understanding the acoustic world of this highly endangered and endemic Hawaiian species.
