NON-AVIAN
WILDLIFE OF HAWAI'I -NON-AVIAN
WILDLIFE OF HAWAI'I -
IN THE SEA
A few of the more regular species observed are detailed below, although some only nest in the North West Chain and some do not breed here at all, e.g Humpback Whale and Loggerhead Turtle. (E = Endemic; I = Indigenous;* = Introduced)
Turtle and Sea Snake information can be found in Reptiles and Amphibians in the Hawaiian Islands by Sean McKeown and is a great book with many color photos for all species. For Marine Mammals the Marine Mammals of the Eastern North Pacific by Seagrant is a great color field card with pictures of nearly all Whales, Dolphins and Seals of the region. (See the Recommended Reading page).
All Sea Turtles (and Seals, Whales and Dolphins) in Hawai'i are fully protected under State Law and the U.S. Endangered Species Act. These laws prohibit harassing, disturbing, harming, killing or keeping Sea Turtles in captivity. Special permits may be issued for research purposes. If you see Sea Turtles, Seals or Whales being harassed or harmed please call:
Enforcement Division of the National Marine Fisheries Service at 1 808 541 2727 or 1 808
244 7572 or State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources: (808) 244-4352
or State of Hawaii DOCARE: (808) 243-5414 or after hours
dial '0' and ask for Enterprise 5469 or the local State Conservation and Resources
Enforcement office at:
Honolulu Laboratory of the National Marine Fisheries Service: 983 5730 (to report
injured, sick and stranded Turtles or nesting activity.
KAUA'I
274 3521
O'AHU
587 0077
MOLOKA'I
567 6618
LANA'I
565 7916
MAUI
984 8110
BIG ISLAND - HILO
974 6208
BIG ISLAND - WAIMEA
887 6196
BIG ISLAND - KONA
323 3141
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HAWAIIAN MONK SEAL (Monachus schaninslandi) E NW Chain; Ni'ihau; Kaua'i; O'ahu; Maui ENDANGERED
An adult monk seal is usually dark grey or brown with a light grey or yellow belly. Adults can weigh anywhere from 396 to 595 pounds; adult females are generally larger than males. Pups usually weigh 24 to 33 pounds at birth and weigh up to 132 to 198 pounds within five to six weeks. The monk seal's common name is derived from its folds of skin that look like a monk's hood, and because it spends most of its time alone or in very small groups. The life span of the Hawaiian Monk Seal is from 25-30 years. There are breeding populations at six islands in the North West Hawaiian Islands and occasionally Seals will pup on the Main Islands, most notably on Kaua'i and Ni'ihau. Monk Seals prefer sandy beaches and lava benches where they can haul themselves out of the water and rest and digest their food. Prey items which they like to feed on include bottom and reef fishes, lobsters and eels and most foraging occurs in water less than 90 meters deep, but has been recorded at a depth of 500m! Monk Seals are often faithful to their birth site and may return year upon year to give birth or feed and rest. Monk Seals are protected by law and should not be disturbed or approached within 100feet. Disturbance may cause a Seal to re-enter the sea before it is ready and may result in ill-health or even death. Most Hawaiian Monk Seals live in the northwestern islands of the Hawaiian archipelago: Kure Atoll, Midway Atoll,
Pearl and Hermes Reef, Lisianski Island, Laysan Island, French Frigate Shoals, Gardner Pinnacles, Necker Island,
and Nihoa Island. These atolls and islands are very remote and are either uninhabited or have little impact by
humans, thus providing an ideal habitat for these easily disturbed creatures. The coral reefs found around these
atolls and islands provide the monk seal with its food supply: spiny lobsters, octopuses, eels, and various reef
fishes. Their enemies include humans, sharks, diseases, attacks from their own species, and marine debris such
as lost fishing nets and plastic products. Hawaiian Monk Seals were first recorded in 1825 at the Hawaiian archipelago's northernmost island, Kure Atoll.
Scientist estimate about 1,300 to 1,400 monk seals live in the Hawaiian islands chain today. The species has declined
at approximately 11% per year since 1989 and is the most endangered U.S. marine mammal. The Hawaiian Monk Seal recovery efforts are overseen by the National Marine Fisheries Service, in cooperation
with other government and private organizations and universities. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service manages many
remote islands as National Wildlife Refuges to protect their habitat. Research includes monitoring monk seal reproduction,
survival techniques, and behavior. In the main Hawaiian islands, volunteer groups routinely remove marine debris
from the ocean and the beaches; in remote areas, the U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Navy lend a helping hand. The Hawaiian
Monk Seal was listed as an endangered species in 1976 under the Federal Endangered Species Act. Critical habitat
was designated in 1988 from beaches to a depth of 20 fathoms (120 feet) around the northwestern Hawaiian islands. |
|
NORTH PACIFIC HUMPBACK WHALE (Megaptera novaengliae) I Waters around the NW Chain; Ni'ihau; Kaua'i, O'ahu; Maui, Moloka'i; Lana'i; Kaho'olawe; Hawai'i ENDANGERED
|
| HAWAIIAN
SPINNER DOLPHIN (Stenella
longirostris) I Waters around the NW Chain; Ni'ihau, Kaua'i; O'ahu; Maui; Moloka'i; Lana'i; Kaho'olawe; Hawai'i.  Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins remain
near the Islands all year where they feed, mate
and look after their young. The Dolphins feed at night in the open ocean, usually along the 100 to 1000 fathom
escarpment, where they forage on organisms that rise to the surface such as small squid, hake and lantern fish.
Dolphins are often seen "riding the bow" of boats around the Main Islands. Individuals can often
be seen jumping and spinning right out of the water - hence their name. Dolphins can be seen from many of the States
headlands, such as Kilauea Point on Kaua'i. Their Hawaiian name is Nai'a.Link: Spinner Dolphin Link: Spinner Dolphin Link: Spinner Dolphin Link: Porpoises & Dolphins |
| BOTTLE
- NOSED DOLPHIN (Tursiops truncatus) I Waters around NW Chain and All Main Islands This species is found throughout the World's temperate oceans and seas, including Hawaiian waters, primarily over the continental shelf, although also in open sea. The species is silvery-gray in overall coloration with a short beak and a "smiling" mouth. The lower jaw protrudes further than the upper. The dorsal fin has a distinctive triangular shape which is angled backwards. Adults can grow up to 12 feet and weigh about 500 pounds, but have been recorded as weighing up to 1430 pounds. Usually found in pods of about a dozen, but pods of several hundred have also been recorded. They often approach ships and boats where they ride alongside and can often be seen jumping out of the water, as well as splashing and playing. Link: Porpoises and Dolphins Link: Whale & Dolphin Conservation |
| ROUGH
- TOOTHED DOLPHIN (Steno bredanensis) I Waters around NW Chain and All Main Islands Commonly seen in Hawaiian waters, this species can be identified by the smooth straight beak, rather than the "snout and peak" profile of many other dolphins. It is dark above with a white chin and throat. Seen in pods of between 10 and 30 individuals usually. Link: Porpoises & Dolphins Link: Whale and Dolphin Conservation |
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HAWAIIAN GREEN SEA TURTLE (Chelonia mydas agassizii) I Waters around NW Chain and All Main Islands
Often seen on Kaua'i from Kilauea Point and Kalapaki Bay; on O'ahu on the North and East shores and Hawai'i on the West and South shores, eg. Aimakapa Beach and Punalu'u Beach park. Also often seen on Pelagics. Population estimated at about 200,000 mature females Worldwide. Only 100 - 350 females nest each year in Hawai'i, primarily on French Frigate Shoals, where Turtles may travel up to 800 miles to reach them. Females may visit several times in a single year to nest, but wait two or three years before nesting again. About 100 eggs are laid at a time and the female then covers the eggs with sand, they take about two months to incubate.
|
| LEATHERBACK
TURTLE (Dermochelys
coriacea) I Occasionally in waters around Main Islands ENDANGERED  This species does not nest on or usually come close to Hawai'i's
shores but it is regularly seen offshore over deep water where it feeds on jellyfish
and other invertebrates. Leatherbacks are the only Sea Turtle which do not have a hard shell or claws on the anterior
edge of its flippers.. Weighing up to two thousand pounds they are the giants of the World's Sea Turtles. |
| HAWKSBILL TURTLE (Eretmochelys imbricata bissa) I Occasionally in waters around Main Islands ENDANGERED  Known as Honu e'a in Hawaiian
this species comes ashore on the Big Island in
small numbers to lay its eggs. They are also sometimes seen on O'ahu, Maui and Moloka'i, where they have occasionally
nested too. The species is small to medium sized and inhabits coral reefs and uses its long narrow beak to probe
for sponges and other bottom-dwelling invertebrates.Link: Hawksbill Turtle |
| LOGGERHEAD
TURTLE (Caretta carreta) I Occasionally in waters around Main Islands ENDANGERED  This is the only representative of this species still existing in the World today and is a large primarily carnivorous species, which feeds on sea urchins, sponges and fishes. It is very rare
in Hawaiian waters. It usually feeds among coral
reefs and sometimes small bays and sometimes far out at sea. the species is found in the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic
Oceans but does not nest in Hawai'i.Link: Turtles |
| SEA TURTLE IDENTIFICATION FEATURES |
| SPECIES | SHELL | HEAD | OTHER FEATURES | |
| Green Sea Turtle | 32-42 inches. No overlapping scutes on the carapace | Single pair of preformal scales on the head between the eyes. | ||
| Hawksbill Turtle | 25-30 inches.Dorsal plates overlap. Carapace edges serrated in juvenile. | Pointed snout. Two pairs of prefrontal scales on the head | Only species of Sea Turtle with pointed snout. | |
| Loggerhead Turtle | 31-45 inches. Elongated reddy-brown carapace with some yellow-bordered scutes. Serrated rear and high anterior carapace. | Large headed. Short and rounded snout. Broad rear head and thick necked. | ||
| Leatherback Turtle | Up to 8 feet. Soft leathery shell. Concave plastron and tapered posterior shell in males. | Black with light-colored spots (as well as on back and limbs). | Lacks claws on anterior edge of flippers. Tail in male twice as long as female. |
| YELLOW-BELLIED
SEA SNAKE (Pelamis platurus) I Waters around NW Chain and All Main Islands This beautiful black and yellow snake is found in waters around the Hawaiian Islands, particularly during El Nino years. The species lives its entire life in the ocean and is well adapted for this habitat, possessing a flattened body, a flattened snout and tail and closeable nostrils for swimming and diving. Sea Snakes also possess salt glands which enable them to expel excess salt. Individuals can stay submerged for two hours and they are supreme divers, however stranded individuals find it hard to return to the water and most will die. The species is venomous and so any found stranded on the beach should be handled with caution. Most Sea Snakes in Hawai'i are seen in deep waters from from shore and so a sighting is rather unlikely. Brightly colored Eels which are resident along the shore of the Main Hawaiian Islands are quite common and often mistaken for Sea Snakes, however they have a slimy skin (Snakes have rougher skins) and breath through gills. A sighting of an Eel whilst snorkelling is far more likely than a Snake sighting. Poisonous: If bitten, although not usually life threatening medical attention should be sought. |
REEF
& OCEAN FISHES E and I Waters around NW Chain and All Main Islands Humuhumu-nukunuku-a-pua'a (Forcipiger ) E Waters around NW Chain and All Main Islands This Trigger Fish with a "snout like a pig" is probably the best known of Hawai'i's reef fishes and is a beautifully colored species which can be easily seen in tidal rock pools and on coral reefs off all the Main Islands and the NW Chain. Lau-wiliwili-nukunuku-oi'oi (Forcipiger longirostris) E Waters around NW Chain and All Main Islands Found inshore on coral reefs and tidal rock pools, much as the previous species, off all the Main Islands as well the NW Chain. There are several guides to the reef fishes of Hawai'i, including a waterproof card that can be used in the sea, and these can give much better details for identification than is possible here. Yellow-finned Tuna (Thunnus albacanes) I Waters around NW Chain and All Main Islands Also known as 'Ahi in Hawai'i, this large fish is popular with fishermen and is served in most restaurants in the Islands. The species can grow to a large size, although most of those observed on pelagics tend to be less than three metres long. 'Ahi are a good species to look out for when looking for seabirds as they drive smaller fish to the surface which the seabirds prey upon, in most cases of course the birds will be spotted first, but some radar systems will pick up larger 'Ahi shoals. The species is pale gray overall with distinctive yellow fins. Common in Hawaiian waters. The Skipjack Tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) is another popular fish found in Hawaiian waters and is also often seen from fishing boats. The species is known as 'Aku in Hawaiian. Dolphinfish (Coryphanea hippurus) I Waters around NW Chain and All Main Islands This species is also popular with the fishermen and is common in Hawaiian waters. The species can grow to a large size too, although not usually as large as 'Ahi. The species is also pale gray in color but has a distinctive head shape, which is very bulbous and rounded side-on. When caught the bright metallic colors that the species exhibits in the water soon become pale and lack-lustre. Known as Mahimahi in Hawaiian. |
| OTHER SPECIES FOUND IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN NEAR HAWAI'I |
| COMMON NAME | SCIENTIFIC NAME | WHERE OBSERVED | ADDITIONAL NOTES |
| MELON-HEADED WHALE | Peponocephala electra | Often seen in Hawaiian waters. | In pods up to several hundred strong. About 9 feet long. Short, hooked dorsal fin and dark patch surrounding it. Steep rounded forehead. |
| SHORT-FINNED PILOT WHALE | Globicephala macrorhynchus | Often seen in Hawaiian waters. | Pods of up to 150 individuals. About 20 feet long. Black and white/gray coloration on upperparts; short, hooked dorsal fin. Bulbous protruding forehead. |
| SPERM WHALE | Physeter macrocephalus | Circumpolar in temperate and tropical seas.Rare in Hawaiian waters. | Very large. Small dorsal fin. Link: Whales & Dolphins |
| FALSE KILLER WHALE | Pseudorca crassidens | Warm tropical seas. Rare in Hawaiian waters. | Small, dark, obvious dorsal fin. Blunt headed. |
| PYGMY SPERM WHALE | Kogia breviceps | Temperate and warm temperate seas. Rare in Hawaiian waters. | Small size. Blunt headed. Short dorsal fin. |
| MINKE WHALE | Balaenoptera acutorostrata | Worldwide including Pacific ocean. | Endangered.Often shows a white flipper band. |
| FIN WHALE | Balaenoptera physalus | Found throughout the World's oceans. Very rare in Hawaiian waters. | Severely Endangered. Dorsal fin set well back on body. Upper jaw brown/gray, lower jaw black on the left and white on the right. |
| RIGHT WHALE | Balaena glacialis | Very rare throughout range which is: Southern Hemisphere between 20 and 50 degrees South & Northern Hemisphere between 20 and 70 degress North. | Critically Endangered. The World's most endangered Whale species. Seldom seen near Hawaii. Lacks dorsal fin. Has white "bonnet" on tip of snout which is a wart-like growth. Link: Whales & Dolphins |
| BRYDE'S WHALE | Balaenoptera edeni | Warm tropical waters. | Three rostral ridges on snout. Dark bodied above, pale below. |
| BLUE WHALE | Balaenoptera musculus | Ranges across Oceans. Extremely rare in Hawaiian waters. | Critically Endangered. The World's largest animal. Huge size, pale gray-blue body. Link: Blue Whale |
| SEI WHALE | Balaenoptera borealis | Ranges across Oceans. | Both lower jaws are dark (cf. Fin Whale) |
| COMMON DOLPHIN | Delphinus delphis | Worldwide including all the Pacific Ocean. Quite common in Hawaiian waters. | Generally in open water, rarely near shore or in shallow water. Pods of between 10 & 100 individuals, but up
to 1000 recorded. Link: Whales & Dolphins |
| RISSO'S DOLPHIN | Grampus griseus | All temperate and tropical seas. Regular in Hawaiian waters. | Generally in deep waters off the coast. Identified by steep forehead and "streaked" skin. |
| OLIVE RIDLEY SEA TURTLE | Lepidochelys olivacea | Pacific and Indian Oceans. Also Australia and tropical Atlantic. Occasional in Hawaiian waters. | Weighs about 80 pounds, length c. 2 feet. Light olive-gray heart-shaped carapace. Photo: Copyright L. Consiglieri |
| MANTA and EAGLE RAYS | Aetobatus narinari | Common in Hawaiian waters. | Large size and distinctive shape with triangular "wings" and long thin tail. Often seen in small groups. |
| MORAY EEL | Gymnothorax sp. | Common in coastal waters and coral reefs in Hawai'i. | Typical eel shape, with large powerful jaws. Usually hides away in small caves and crannies and can give quite a severe bite. Known as Puhi in Hawaiian. |
| TIGER SHARK | Galeocerdo cuvieri | Fairly common in Hawaiian waters, especially the NW Chain. | Typical shark shape. Often seen close inshore, especially during fledging periods of Albatross in the NW Chain. Murky water at river mouths after heavy storms are known to be favored by the species. Known as mano in Hawaiian. |
| WHITE-TIPPED REEF SHARK | Triaenodon obesus | Regular in Hawaiian waters. | Other species recorded include Gray Reef Shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), Galapagos Shark (Charcharinus galapagensis) and Cookiecutter Shark (Isistius brasiliensis). It should be remembered that there have been very few shark attacks in Hawai'i (only c.40 since 1900) and more than half were non-fatal. |
| BLUE MARLIN | Makaira nigricans | Common in Hawaiian waters. | A favorite prey of fishermen. Large size, long, sword-like snout and large upright dorsal "sail" - unmistakeable! Usually seen singly or in small groups. Will take large prey items e.g. Dolphins. |
| Note that some of the species in the above table (particularly the Whales) are rarely recorded in Hawaiian waters and sightings of some species should be reported. Most of these species are only recorded from pelagics which travel further away from the Islands than most tourist boats venture. |
Once
the hatchlings are out of their shells they work as a team to break through the sand piled on top of them. When
they reach about an inch from the surface the hatchlings stop if the sand is hot, as this tells them that it is
day-time, if it is cool they continue digging as this signifies night or an overcast day. Once through the sand
they race for the water and swim constantly for the next 36 to 48 hours. They then grow alone for the next few
years, living off invertebrates such as jellyfish, before joining the female and juvenile Turtles at coastal feeding
grounds.