SIRENIAS of the WORLD Size, They Are Completely Harm- the Scientific Order Sirenia Includes Three Living and One Extinct Less to Humans

Water lettuce By Laurie Triefeldt

Huge and slow- moving, the manatee looks a MANATEES bit like a walrus without tusks. Despite their SIRENIAS OF THE WORLD size, they are completely harm- The scientific order Sirenia includes three living and one extinct less to humans. species of manatees, as well as the dugong, a close cousin. Most Manatees in Florida can live in salt populations of these aquatic mammals are listed as endangered or water or fresh water. They feed on more than 60 species of plants, vulnerable. Hunting, habitat destruction and collisions with ships including water grasses, mangrove and boats are serious threats to these gentle giants. leaves and algae. The West Indian What is in a name? manatee can grow Location, location to 13 feet (4 m) long Manatees are sometimes called sea and weigh as much cows. The name manatí means as 1,300 pounds “breast” in the Taíno language. The (590 kg). Taíno were a seafaring Caribbean people who were wiped out in the 16th It is illegal century by European disease, war and under federal and Florida slavery. laws to injure Steller’s sea cow (extinct) or harm a West Indian manatee Very special manatee. Amazonian manatee Manatees Dugong Sirenians are distant cousins of the have paddle- Manatees West African manatee like flippers communicate elephant. Like all mammals, they with three or with sound, Folklore breathe air and feed their young milk, four nails. sight, smell but unlike some marine mammals, and touch. Manatees and dugongs may be sirenians never leave the water. Manatee Vocalization responsible for the ancient stories skin is finely is frequent of mermaids. Sailors likely mistook The manatee is sensitive to cold and wrinkled, and between cows them for the half-human, half-fish migrates to warmer areas when water the surface layer and their sirens of legend. temperatures drop below 68° F (20° C). sloughs off, reducing calves. the buildup of algae Many coastal communities in West and other growths. Manatees Africa have songs and stories of a West Indian manatee usually breed sea goddess called Mami Water. The West Indian manatee lives in once every two This generous but jealous water coastal waters and rivers from the mid- years. Gesta- tion lasts about spirit may have been inspired by Atlantic and southeastern United States a year, and a the manatee. Despite its sacred to northeastern Brazil. It is also found baby calf will be connections, the West African off the coasts of Caribbean islands. weaned at 12 to 18 months. manatee is still hunted and is The Florida manatee is a subspe- seriously endangered. cies of the West Indian manatee and Like elephants, Historically, some indigenous is the official state mammal of Florida. manatees have special peoples along the Atlantic shores It is also the most endangered marine molars that replace themselves. New teeth used ground-up manatee bones mammal in the U.S. West at the back of the jaw African to make medicines for asthma and move forward to replace ear infections. Native Americans West African manatee manatee old and worn teeth at the front. hunted the manatee for its meat, The West African manatee lives in Unlike most large mammals, bones and fat. They also made Manatees spend Manatee the rivers and coastal waters of West the brain of a manatee is shields and shoes from the mana- six to eight hours have thick Africa. These shy, nocturnal creatures smooth, with just one a day eating. whiskers tee’s thick, wrinkled skin. fissure and no ridges. have not been studied very much, but called they are thought to behave very much vibrissae Red tide like their West Indian cousins. Although on their Red tides are a naturally occurring, the African manatee is primarily a herbi- snouts. microscopic algae bloom that is le- vore, it also eats mollusks and fish. Manatees are slow-moving creatures that travel at 3 to 5 thal to manatees and other marine mph (5 to 8 kph), but they have populations. Since 1996, red tides Amazonian manatee been known to sprint in short in Florida have been responsible The Amazonian manatee, or South bursts of up to 20 mph (32 kph). for hundreds of manatee deaths. American manatee, was once a common sight in the rivers of the Ship collisions Amazon River basin, but hunting Collisions with ship and boat hulls has drastically reduced its and propellers have caused about numbers. The Amazonian one-quarter of all manatee deaths The dugong A typical manatee lives manatee is the since 1974 (when record-keeping Dugong is about the size only manatee that of a dolphin. 50-60 years. began). Manatees feed in shallow The dugong is found in the warm lives exclusively water, where there is little time or in fresh water; it waters of Indonesia and Australia. cannot tolerate room to dive to the bottom to avoid It looks a lot like a manatee but is salt water. oncoming boats. Many manatees smaller, and its tail is forked, A strict herbivore, are killed by these accidents or unlike the tail of the manatee. it eats water have deep scars on their backs lettuce and and tails from close encounters. Steller’s sea cow hyacinth. Mantee populations are also The largest of the sirenians, this sea threatened by habitat loss. cow was discovered by Europeans in At about SOURCES: World 30 feet (9 m) long, Book Encyclopedia, the North Pacific in 1741. Just 27 years World Book Inc.; www. Steller’s sea cow savethemanatee.org; later, Steller’s sea cow had been hunt- was two to three Manatee Park, Fort times larger than the Myers, Florida; www. ed to extinction. Fossils show that this sirenian.org; Florida Fish aquatic mammal was once widespread average manatee or and Wildlife Conserva- dugong. The lungs and diaphragm of sirenians run lengthwise, all along tion Commission; www. along North Pacific coastlines. the underside of the spine. This helps control buoyancy. livescience.com Like us on Facebook — www.facebook.com/worldofwonder2014

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