|
|
|
Photos.com
|
|
|
MANATEE,
popularly called sea cow, any of three species of large water
mammals in the genus Trichechus, order SIRENIA. T.
inunguis occurs 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. senegalensis is
found in rivers of tropical West Africa. A manatee is at home in
salt or fresh water but usually stays within its small home range,
where it grazes on water plants. Its grayish to black corpulent
body tapers to a horizontally flattened, rounded tail. The forelimbs
are flippers set close to the head; no external hind limbs exist.
The head is small, with a straight snout and a cleft upper lip with
bristly hairs. Adults are about 3 m (about 10 ft) long and weigh
about 585 kg (about 1300 lb). They live in small family groups and
sometimes in herds of 15 to 20. After a gestation of up to six months,
usually a single pinkish calf is born. The number of manatees has
been reduced by heavy hunting for their hides, meat, and blubber
oil, but some governments, including the U.S., have placed them
under protection. One practical reason for this is that they have
proved useful in clearing irrigation and transport channels clogged
with water plants.