Creature
Fast Facts
Introducing you to extinct species.
THE CARIBBEAN
MONK SEAL NASAL MITE
1. The Caribbean monk seal nasal mite, Halarachne americana, went extinct in 1952 when its host, the Caribbean monk seal died out. 2. This little mite lived in the nasal passage (the nose) of the Caribbean monk seal. 3. The only specimens of this mite were recovered from a single seal. 4. The Caribbean Monk Seal Nasal Mite was so specialized that it could only live in the nose of this particular species of seal. 5. When the Caribbean monk seals started disappearing, so did the needed "habitat" for this mite. 6. Mites are related to ticks. There are over 48,200 different species of mites including the dust mite which live in carpets of our homes and affect many allergy sufferers. 7. Many mite species eat decaying matter that creates new soil. 8. Some species, like their cousins the ticks, feed on blood, and many are specialized to a specific species of animal, like those found on honey bees.
Extinction
Cometh
Facing the light at the end of the tunnel
EXTINCTION DATE
1952
The Caribbean monk seal nasal mite once thrived in the vast colonies of seals living in the Caribbean. Columbus was the first European to describe these 'sea wolves', but he never mentioned these microscopic parasites. These nasal mites were so specialized that they were only ever observed in a single seal. Once the Caribbean monk seal went extinct in 1952, so did the Caribbean monk seal nasal mite. Its extinction shows the interconnectedness of many species. Because there are no museum specimens of the Caribbean monk seal nasal mite, its de-extinction possibilities are bleak.
NEW STORY
A vacation back to my old home might just hit the spot. It’s not that I don’t enjoy the splendors of paradise. I just want to go back and spread my wings, I mean flippers. It’ll be nice to spend some time on the warm sand, basking in the sun, feeling the cool breeze hit my face as I leap out of the crystal blue seas. It’ll be nice being back in my warm snot cocoon at a consistent 98.24℉ (That’s how warm seal snot is. Look it up.) Who am I? I am the Caribbean monk seal. The only member of the seal family to once dwell in the warm, wonderful Caribbean Sea. My kind even met Christopher Columbus on his first ocean crossing to the “New World”. It wasn’t new. It had always been there, but once old Columbus settled down, life in the Caribbean would never be the same. Don’t forget me. Who am I? I am the one who never got much respect. I am the Caribbean monk seal nasal mite. The guy who lived in this seal’s nose. Columbus never took notice of me. In fact, I only was ever noticed by one scientist, but that was about to change.
More to Explore
All answers lead to more questions
An image of the extinct Caribbean monk seal nasal mite
Image from Wikipedia
VIDEOS & ADDITIONAL INFO
Article from 1898 about the Caribbean Seal Nasal Mite
Dust Mite Song - (catchy song about dust mites)
Giant Red Velvet Mites Facts - Video
Caribbean monk seal specimen in New York aquarium in 1910
Image from Wikipedia
Many seals and sea lions are infected with nasal mites just like the extinct Caribbean monk seal was long ago
Image from The Mammal Marine Center
A description from an 1898 journal describing the new species of nasal mites found in the Caribbean monk seal
Image from Wikimedia Commons
Microscopic view of dust mites in a carpet eating dead skin
Image from Pure Clean Carpet Cleaning
A closeup of the giant red velvet mite
Image from Bug Guide
A factual cartoon about the giant red velvet mite
Image from The Oatmeal
A giant red velvet mite compared to the size of a human hand
Image from Bio Web Home
