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Manatees & Dugongs

Manatees & Dugongs. Descendents. Order Sirenia = Manatees & Dugongs Some known as “Sea Cows” or sirenians Related to elephants Named after mermaids or sirens (mythical creatures whose songs drove sailors crazy). Only 4 Living Species Today Stellar Sea Cow = extinct. Anatomy.

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Manatees & Dugongs

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  1. Manatees & Dugongs

  2. Descendents • Order Sirenia = Manatees & Dugongs • Some known as “Sea Cows” or sirenians • Related to elephants • Named after mermaids or sirens(mythical creatures whose songs drove sailors crazy)

  3. Only 4 Living Species Today • Stellar Sea Cow = extinct

  4. Anatomy • Sirenians have: • Pair of front flippers • No rear limbs • Paddle-shaped, horizontal tail • Round, tapered body • Body surrounded by blubber • No dorsal fin • Wrinkled skin • Scattered Hair • 10-15ft in size; largest = 25ft • About 600-1500lbs

  5. Behavior • Extremely docile, slow moving • Move so slow, algae grows on their skin • Aquatic vegetarians • Use large lips to feed on seagrass • Reproduce on calf every 3 years • Vocalize: http://www.manateecam.com/manatee_short.wav

  6. Mother & Calf

  7. Manatees vs Dugongs • Manatee teeth can grow back • Dugongs have two incisors (tusks) • Grow backwards till puberty when emerge in males • Do not show in females • Dugongs are smaller

  8. Manatee tail = Round Dugong tail = Forked Manatee vs Dugong

  9. Three species of manatees Live in Atlantic Ocean from FL to West Africa 1 restricted to Amazon Dugong lives from East Africa to West Pacific Islands Off North Australia Distribution

  10. Endangered Species

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