Manatees belong to the mammalian order Sirenia. There are 3 species of manatee: Trichechus inunguis, the Amazonian manatee; Trichechus senegalensis, the West African manatee; and Trichechus manatus, the West Indian manatee .
Manatees are large, docile aquatic mammals. There are three species of manatee. They are in the order Sirenia along with the dugong and the extinct Steller’s sea cow. Although manatees and the dugong share many similarities with marine mammals such as seals, their closest living relatives are elephants .
What are the 2 types of manatees?
The West Indian manatee is a large, aquatic mammal. There are two subspecies of West Indian manatees: the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) , and the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris).
How many species of manatees are there and in what part of the world is each species found?
There are three species of manatees . The West Indian Manatee that is commonly found in Florida and the Gulf Coast of North America; the Amazonian Manatee that is found in the Amazonian River Basin; and the West African Manatee found along the tropical and sub-tropical waters of Africa.
How many species of manatees are there?
There are three species of manatee, distinguished primarily by where they live. The West Indian manatee ranges along the North American east coast from Florida to Brazil. The Amazonian manatee species inhabit the Amazon River and the African manatee swims along the west coast and rivers of Africa.
Has a manatee ever killed a human?
According to the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, approximately 99 manatee deaths each year are related to human activities. In January 2016, there were 43 manatee deaths in Florida alone.
What is a female manatee called?
A female manatee, called a cow , can give birth about once every 3 years.
Can you touch manatees?
Look, but don’t touch manatees .
If manatees become accustomed to being around people, they can alter their behavior in the wild, perhaps causing them to lose their natural fear of boats and humans, which may make them more susceptible to harm.
Why are manatees so fat?
So why do they look fat? The digestive tract of a manatee takes up a large percentage of its body . Being aquatic herbivores, they consume large quantities of vegetation which are accommodated in the stomach and intestines, resulting in their round appearance.
Are manatees friendly to humans?
Manatees are calm and peaceful marine mammals that pose no danger to swimmers. In fact, they are curious animals that enjoy human interaction and are quite happy to relate with and be around humans. That’s why it’s quite common for manatees to approach swimmers or divers for a belly rub or close contact.
Is a manatee a pinniped?
The distinctive characteristics of pinnipeds have many wondering: Are manatees pinnipeds? Actually, they’re not . ... Sea otters also look and behave like pinnipeds, plus they’re the largest member of the weasel family.
How long does a manatee live?
Manatees reach sexual maturity in 3-5 years (females) and 5-7 years (males) and may live over 65 years in captivity .
Do manatees ever go on land?
Manatees never go on land . Manatees don’t always need to breathe. As they swim, they poke their nose up above the water’s surface to catch a few breaths every few minutes. If they are simply resting, they can stay under the water for 15 minutes without taking a breath, according to National Geographic.
Are manatees intelligent?
Though known for having one of the smallest brains, manatees are very intelligent . Even though manatees have the lowest brain-to-body ratio of any marine mammal, a study found that manatees are as adept at experimental tasks as dolphins, one of the smartest animals on the planet.
Is manatee a whale?
Manatees belong to the family, Trichechidae, of the Mammalian Order Sirenia. ... Despite the manatee’s aquatic appearance, it is not closely related to whales , dolphins, seals, or sea lions. In fact, their closest relatives are elephants and hyraxes. Like elephants and hyraxes, they are herbivorous.
What animals eat manatees?
Manatees don’t really have any real predators. Sharks or killer whales or alligators or crocodiles could eat them, but since they don’t usually inhabit the same waters, this is pretty rare. Their biggest threat is from humans. And because of this, all manatee species are endangered and threatened.
