Sirenia

Manatee [pic] Table of Contents Section Pages Introduction 3 Report 4-9 Conclusion 10 Appendix 11-13 Bibliography 14 Introduction Manatees (order Sirenia, genus Trichechus) are the source folklore and possess many unique characteristics. With three recognized species, manatees (along with their relative, the dugong) also possess a unique range, limited mostly to coastal bays and waterways of the warm

manatees” (Seaworld). While they are resting, they are either at the surface of the water or at the bottom of the seabed. Occasionally, manatees can be seen participating in group activities, including follow-the-leader and body surfing. The sirenia is a social and solitary animal. The sirenia’s habitat is located in the warm coastal waters. In fact, manatees cannot live in water colder than 68℉. They can be found where there is an abundance of seagrass or vegetation. This species can live

in different parts of the world such as West Africa, Amazon basin, Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean sea. Manatees are mostly herbivores and will be found feeding on algae and other vegetation that thrive in these waters. They belong to the species Sirenia which also consists of dugongs with their closest relatives being the elephant. You will also be fascinated to know that these creatures were mistaken for legendary mermaids by early sailors who used to ply the deep seas. How Do You Tell a Female

U.S. Geological Survey’s Sirenia Project has been monitoring welfare biomarkers in manatees over several years in Kings Bay, Florida. Dr. Bob Bonde, a research biologist with the Sirenia Project, is granting the use of these samples for my proposed project. Identification and documentation of age classes of manatees at Kings Bay will account for manatees

History The Manatee or more commonly known as the “Sea Cow”, can only be found in warmer waters like in Florida and in that area. Manatees are large marine mammals, and they can weigh up to more than 500kg can also grow up to lengths of over 4.5 meters. Now despite their large size, it’s not really uncommon for Manatees to age more than 70 years old. So the manatee spends most of its time grazing the sea grass in the shallow waters they are herbivores and, therefore really only feed on seagrass

West Indian Manatee The West Indian manatee is one of three species that belong to the family Trichechidae. The West Indian manatee was first described by Linneaus in 1758, however bones from the order that manatees belong to, Sirenia, which have been dated to 45 million years ago have been found in the Florida coast and estuaries. The West Indian manatee was further divided into two subspecies in 1924, the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latisrostris) and the Antillean manatee (T. m. manatus)

Manatees      Quietly, but swiftly, the plump, dark animal glided across the water while making sounds comparable to that of the squeaks and squeals of a whale ("Florida Manatee" 1). Some would say these aquatic mammals are the ugliest thing below the surface, others would say that these animals are beautiful and resemble portly mermaids, but no matter what anybody says about the manatees, they are unique creatures (Ray and Ciampi 315). They are mammals that are

The West Indian manatee or "sea cow" is a manatee, and the largest surviving member of the aquatic mammal order Sirenia. An article published by The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species states, “The number of mature individuals is currently estimated to number less than 10,000 (based on combined population estimates for the Florida and Antillean subspecies) and is expected

It is in the Order Sirenia, along with the three species of manatees, and has the same grey fusiform body with paddle-like limbs. However, dugongs have sharply downturned snouts and a fluked tail. They are 8-10 feet long, weigh about ~500-1000 lbs, and can live over 70 years

Sirenians Extant marine mammals belonging to the sirenian order include the dugong (Dugong dugon), the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis), and the West African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis). Sirenians are protected internationally by the Specially Protected Areas and Wildlife (SPAW) protocol, the Memorandum of Understanding on the Conservation and Management of Dugongs, and CITES (LaCommare et al. 2012). All extant sirenians are listed under