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Seasonal testosterone pattern in Hawaiian monk seals (Monachus schauinslandi)

Summary. Blood samples from four captive male Hawaiian monk seals were collected at intervals of one month for one year for testosterone assay. Plasma testosterone concentrations, measured by radioimmunoassay, revealed a clear seasonal pattern. The lowest mean testosterone concentration (0·09 ± 0·04 ng ml^–1) occurred in January, and the highest (1·78 ± 0·40 ng ml^–1) in June. The seasonal occurrence of births and of injuries related to mating in wild populations of Hawaiian monk seals showed a distinct association with the period of high testosterone. This study supports other data that indicate that the Hawaiian monk seal is a seasonal breeder and is reproductively active for longer than monachine seals that live in higher latitudes.

Keywords: Hawaiian monk seal; testosterone; seasonal breeding

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