This West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is an aquaticmammal. Like amphibians and reptiles, mammals are tetrapods (vertebrates with four limbs). Explain why manatees areconsidered tetrapods even though they lack hind limbs, andsuggest traits that manatees likely share with leopards andother mammals (see Figure 26.12b). Discuss how early members of the manatee lineage might have differed from today’smanatees.

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Chapter15: Animal Evolution
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This West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is an aquatic
mammal. Like amphibians and reptiles, mammals are tetrapods (vertebrates with four limbs). Explain why manatees are
considered tetrapods even though they lack hind limbs, and
suggest traits that manatees likely share with leopards and
other mammals (see Figure 26.12b). Discuss how early members of the manatee lineage might have differed from today’s
manatees.

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