MANATEES

MANATEE


The manatee popularly called the sea cow is any of
the species of large water animals in the genus
Trichechus. There are three species of manatee with T.
inunguis found in the Amazon and Orinoco river systems;
T. manatus is found in central Florida and along the
Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean coasts; and T. senegalenis
found in the rivers of tropical West Africa. A manatee
is a slow moving, seal shaped mammal that lives in
shallow coastal waters where rich plant grows. It
usually is at home in salt or fresh water but rarely
straying far from home.

A manatee is grayish-black stout thick skinned
animals and almost hairless. Its corpulent body tapers
to a horizontally flattened, round tail. The fore
limbs are set close to it's head and are used to push
algae, such as seaweed and other water plants toward
their mouths. They have a small head, with a straight
snout and cleft upper lip with bristly hairs. Adults
can grow up to 15ft (4.6 meters) but they usually only
grow to about 10 feet. They weigh an average of 1300
pounds.

Manatees live in small family groups sometimes up
to herds of 15-20. After a gestation of up to 6
months, usually a single pinkish calf is born.
Manatees ferquently communicate by muzzle to muzzle
contact and when alarmed they emit chripy squeaks.

The number of manatees has been reduced over the
past several years due to heavy hunting for their
hides, meat, and blubber oil. Some governments,
including the United States, have placed the manatees
under the endangered species list. One practical
reason for this is that they have proved useful in
clearin girrigation and transport channels clogged with
aquatic plant life. There has also been an increase in
manatee death due to passing boats that speed through
channels.

If we all do not help protect these sea cows today
then they will not be around for future generations to
enjoy. Everyone must do their part in protecting these
mammals of they ocean. If we do not help save their
dying species who will?