Feeding
Monk seals must be able to find their food either in the open sea of in the shallow lagoons near their breeding beaches. As apup, they nurse for about 5-6 weeks after birth and will gain 175 pounds in that time. They are traded amongst the mothers who lose 350 pounds in that time. As the pups gradually learn to get food on their own, they lose some weight. They also start to make longer trips away from their birthplaces. Adults generally eat octopus, lobster, fish (including eels and flatfish), and other sea creatures which may include otters and squid. They eat at night and do some other amazing things to get what they eat, such as diving up to 600 feet, staying under for up to 20 minutes, slowing their heart rate to about 4 beats per minute, and staying out at sea for up to a month.