Monachinae (known colloquially as "Southern seals") is a subfamily of
Phocidae whose distribution is found in the
tropical,
temperate and
polar regions of the
southern hemisphere, though in the distant past fossil representatives have been found on both sides of the
North Atlantic Ocean.[1][2] The difference between members of this group and members of
Phocinae is in monachines the hindclaws are greatly reduced in size.[3] Furthermore, all species have 34
chromosomes.[3] There are three tribes recognized here:
Monachini (monk seals),
Miroungini (elephant seals), and
Lobodontini (Antarctic seals and a handful of Afroamerican fossil genera).[4][5] While today represented by eight extant and
one recently extinct species, Monachinae had an incredibly enriched fossil diversity that went into decline soon to be replaced by southern species of
sea lions and
fur seals.[6][5]
^Stewart, Brent (2014). "Family Phocidae (Earless Seals)". In Wilson, D.E.; Mittermeier, R.A. (eds.). Handbook of the Mammals of the World – Volume 4. Barcelona: Lynx Ediciones. pp. 120–183.
ISBN978-84-96553-93-4.
^
abBonner, N. (1994). Seals and Sea Lions of the World. United Kingdom: Blandford. pp. 1–224.
ISBN9780816057177.
^Berta, A.; Churchill, M. (2012). "Pinniped taxonomy: Review of currently recognized species and subspecies, and evidence used for their description". Mammal Review. 42 (3): 207–34.
doi:
10.1111/j.1365-2907.2011.00193.x.
^Yonezawa, T.; et al. (2009). "The monophyletic origin of sea lions and fur seals (Carnivora; Otariidae) in the Southern Hemisphere". Gene. 441 (1–2): 89–99.
doi:
10.1016/j.gene.2009.01.022.
PMID19254754.