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Manatees (/ ˈ m æ n ə t iː z /, family Trichechidae, genus Trichechus) are large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows.There are three accepted living species of Trichechidae, representing three of the four living species in the order Sirenia: the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis), the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), and the West ...
The recently extinct Steller's sea cow was the largest known sirenian to have lived, reaching lengths of 10 metres (33 feet) and weights of 5 to 10 tonnes (5.5 to 11.0 short tons). [ 2 ] Sirenians have a large, fusiform body which reduces drag through the water and heavy bones that act as ballast to counteract the buoyancy of their blubber .
The earliest known sea cows, of the families †Prorastomidae and †Protosirenidae, were both confined to the Eocene, and were pig-sized, four-legged, amphibious creatures. [19] The first members of Dugongidae appeared by the middle Eocene. [20] At this point, sea cows were fully aquatic. [19] Pinnipeds split from other caniforms 50 mya during ...
Each fall, manatees travel from coastal areas to inland rivers, creeks and warm water areas like the FPL Plant near Manatee Park on the Orange River. Florida's sea cows will soon make their way ...
The recently published study suggests that the giant sea cows may not have arrived in large numbers to the state of Florida until after European settlements started sprouting up in the 1500s.
Dolphin meat is high in mercury, and may pose a health danger to humans when consumed. [17] Ringed seals were once the main food staple for the Inuit. They are still an important food source for the people of Nunavut [18] and are also hunted and eaten in Alaska. Seal meat is an important source of food for residents of small coastal communities ...
Florida manatees in the Indian River Lagoon are starving in record numbers because of seagrass loss. Pollution is causing poor water quality.
Commercial hunting lead to the extinction of Steller's sea cow and the Caribbean monk seal. [ 36 ] [ 37 ] After commercial hunting ended, some species, such as the gray whale and northern elephant seal, [ 38 ] [ 39 ] have rebounded in numbers, however the northern elephant seal has a genetic bottleneck ; [ 39 ] conversely, other species, such ...