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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 ...
Manatees do not have incisors; these have been replaced by horny gingival plates. [50] Some individuals may also inadvertently eat invertebrates (such as small aquatic insects and crustaceans) and will eat fish both in captivity and in the wild. [47] [48] Manatees are nonruminants with an enlarged hindgut. Unlike other hindgut fermenters, such ...
The dugong (/ ˈ d (j) uː ɡ ɒ ŋ /; Dugong dugon) is a marine mammal.It is one of four living species of the order Sirenia, which also includes three species of manatees.It is the only living representative of the once-diverse family Dugongidae; its closest modern relative, Steller's sea cow (Hydrodamalis gigas), was hunted to extinction in the 18th century.
Manatees may become stranded or injured by debris during hurricanes. In years past, they have been discovered after hurricanes in a dry bay , in a golf course pond and a retention pond .
The main threat to the Amazonian manatee is illegal hunting. They are hunted for subsistent and local use, not commercially. The hunting has led to the large decline in the population and low population numbers. Between 1935 and 1954, over 140,000 manatees are estimated to have been killed.
Searching for warm waters during winter can prove challenging for manatees. Nevertheless, many have found the solution to frigid temperatures near power plants discharging warm water.
In 2021 and 2022, Florida’s manatee population took a hit as thousands of manatees died of starvation. Manatees were dying in record-breaking numbers. But that trend may be slowing down
Manatees are omnivores; and are known to occasionally eat clams, mollusks, and fish found in nets. [7] The percentage of the diet that is composed of non-plant material varies based on location, [ 1 ] with manatees living off the coast having a lifetime average of 50% non-plant material. [ 1 ]