Who are manatees? Manatee - good-natured sea cow Sea animal manatee

Order - Sirens / Family - Manatees / Genus - Manatees

History of the study

The Amazonian or Brazilian manatee (lat. Trichechus inungius) is a freshwater mammal of the manatee family that lives exclusively in the Amazon River system.

Spreading

The Amazonian manatee lives exclusively in the fresh waters of the Amazon and its tributaries; to life in salt water not suitable. Among the countries South America, where Amazonian manatees are currently found, Brazil, Eastern Peru, Southeast Colombia and Eastern Ecuador. Previously, it was erroneously believed that the range of the Amazonian manatee included the Orinoco River basin; American manatees swimming into rivers in northern South America were mistaken for them. Sometimes the Amazonian manatee is found at the mouth of the Amazon, near Atlantic coast, but does not go into the sea.

Appearance

The Amazonian manatee is a large aquatic animal that has a streamlined body shape and limbs transformed into flippers. The tail has the shape of a rounded horizontal “oar”. There are no hind limbs. Adult manatees have dark skin coloration. On the chest of the Amazonian manatee there is distinguishing feature- white or pink spots. The skin is smoother and more even than that of other species of manatees. The body is covered with sparse fur. Thick stubble grows over the upper and lower lips. The shape of the upper lip is typical for all manatees - it is forked. The scientific name of the species literally means “deprived of nails” (inunguis), because the Amazonian manatee lacks even the rudiments of nail plates.

The largest Amazon manatee caught weighed less than 300 kg, with a body length of 2.8 meters. This is the smallest species of manatee.

Reproduction

In some parts of their range, Amazonian manatees breed at any time of year (Ecuador). In others, reproduction is seasonal and is tied to fluctuations in water levels, so the vast majority of cubs are born from December to July, mainly from February to May, when the water is highest (the central parts of the Amazon basin). Pregnancy lasts about 1 year and usually ends with the birth of a single calf, 85-105 cm long and weighing 10-15 kg. The interval between births appears to be about 2 years. The mother-calf bond is the only long-term bond among manatees.

The lifespan of the Amazonian manatee in the wild is unknown; two individuals lived for more than 12.5 years in captivity. Manatees' natural predators include jaguars, crocodiles and sharks.

Lifestyle

The Amazonian manatee lives exclusively in fresh water. This animal prefers blackwater lakes and lagoons, and usually lives in waters with temperatures of 22 - 30 degrees C (72 - 86 degrees F). Amazonian manatees are closely related to fresh water also because of the rich aquatic vegetation, which constitutes the main source of food for them.

The Amazonian manatee is both diurnal (active during the day) and nocturnal (active during the night) animal. The Amazonian manatee is completely aquatic and never leaves water.

Scientists have observed large concentrations of manatees in the mid-Amazon, but the most large groups manatees currently observed generally include only 4 to 8 animals. Most manatees observed are either solitary individuals or females with offspring.

Nutrition

The Amazonian manatee is a herbivore that feeds on aquatic vegetation near lake edges, such as aquatic grasses and water lilies. Adults in captivity consume 9 to 15 kilograms (20 to 33 lb) of leafy vegetables daily.

Amazon manatees do most of their feeding during the rainy season, when they eat new vegetation in flooded swamps. During the dry season (September - March), when they congregate in main river channels or in the deep parts of large lakes, they may starve for many weeks or months due to the lack of available plants.

Number

The exact population size of Amazonian manatees is unknown. Despite intensive trapping for meat, fat and hides, manatees were still found in large numbers in the Amazon and its pelts in 1942. largest tributaries. However, in the second half of the 20th century, its population began to decline noticeably.

Since 1965, the Amazonian manatee has been included in the International Red Book. Currently listed as Vulnerable and listed in Appendix I of CITES.

Amazonian manatee and man

For centuries they were hunted by Amazonian natives for their meat and fat. The middle ear bones of manatees (the stapes) were considered a powerful aphrodisiac. In the 19th century commercially harvested manatee meat (called mixira) was in widespread demand.

In addition to predatory hunting, the reasons for its reduction are fishing(manatees become entangled in fishing nets and drown), collisions with river vessels and general degradation environment, including a reduction in food supply due to water pollution.

It's rare marine mammal lives in shallow water. He can be found on the territory national park Everglades.

Manatees (lat. Trichechus) - a genus of large aquatic mammals monotypic family Trichechidae, siren squad . These herbivores They live in shallow water and feed on aquatic vegetation.

Description of the species

Animals of the manatee genus differ from representatives of the family dugong (Dugongidae) shape of the skull and tail. The manatee's tail is shaped like a paddle, while the dugong's tail is shaped like a fork. One of the unique features that manatees share with elephants is permanent shift molars, which is generally uncharacteristic of mammals. The flippers have flat nail-like hooves, reminiscent of an elephant's. New teeth appear further down the jaw and gradually push old and worn teeth forward. The manatee has not seven cervical vertebrae, like most mammals, but six.
Manatees weigh between 400 and 550 kilograms and have an average length of 2.8 to 3.0 m, with maximums of 3.6 meters and 1,775 kg (females tend to be larger and heavier). At birth, baby manatees have average weight 30 kg.
Manatees, in particular, inhabit shallow, marshy coastal areas of North, Central, and South America, as well as Caribbean Sea.

There are three types of manatees:

— Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis)
— American manatee (Trichechus manatus)
— African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis)

African manatees live near the banks and in rivers equatorial Africa(on the West Coast), Amazonian manatees can be found on east coast South America (in the Amazon, Orinoco rivers and their tributaries), American manatees live in the West Indies (the Caribbean coast from Florida to Brazil). Some classify the Florida manatee as a separate species, but ITIS considers it a subspecies of the American manatee. Florida manatees reach 4.5 meters or more in length; They live in both fresh and salt water. Manatees were hunted for their fat and meat; Now hunting them is prohibited.

American manatee- an endangered species. Although he is not afraid of anything natural predators, human expansion has reduced it natural environment habitats in coastal areas. Many manatees are injured by motor boat propellers. Manatees swallow fishing gear, and the fishing line gets caught in digestive system animal, forms a ball and begins to slowly kill it.

Manatees are often attracted to power plants that release warm water. Having become accustomed to this constant source of unnatural heat, manatees stopped migrating to warm waters. IN Lately power plants have begun to close, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is trying to find a way to heat water for manatees.

Structural features

Manatees have 6 vertebrae in the cervical spine, unlike most mammals, which have 7.

If manatees can be mistaken for mythical sea maidens, then perhaps they are very well-fed and for some reason have lost their hair. They are large and good-natured, reaching three meters and weighing from four hundred to five hundred and fifty kilograms. The only thing they have in common with sirens is the presence of a paddle-shaped tail.

Animals also have flippers, which they use not only for swimming, but also for walking along the bottom. A manatee can even scratch itself funny with its flippers. The skin of sirens is covered with sparse hair, which is permanent. An interesting feature of this species, which makes them similar to elephants, is the constant change of molars: new ones regularly grow to replace old and worn ones. Manatees live in the waters off the coast of North, Central and South America, off the west coast of Africa, and also in Caribbean.

They often swim into rivers that flow into the sea not far from their places, and the Amazonian manatee lives exclusively in fresh water. Despite their rather impressive size, manatees are peaceful animals that feed exclusively plant foods– algae, semi-aquatic plants, as well as fruits that have fallen into the water. Once every three to five years, female manatees give birth to one calf, which remains with its mother for at least two years until it becomes independent. However, the connection between the female and the adult calf still remains.

Manatee problems

Manatees have virtually no natural enemies, therefore, these animals did not develop during evolution the habit of constantly being on guard and, in case of danger, fleeing or attacking the enemy. They are friendly and curious, without fear they come into contact with divers and allow themselves to be petted. The cubs enjoy playing with people, while the adults look on favorably and take advantage of the respite for their own pleasure.

Such habits have served manatees badly. Today there are three species of this animal: the American, African and Amazonian manatees, all of which are endangered. Clumsy animals for a long time were the object of hunting, their meat was highly valued. Today, manatee hunting is prohibited, but other dangers to the sirens have emerged. They often die when caught under the blades of boat motors or swallow fishing nets, which also leads to their death.

Trichechus Linnaeus,

See text

African manatee Amazonian manatee

There are three to four species of manatees:

• Amazonian manatee ( Trichechus inunguis)
• American manatee ( Trichechus manatus)
• African manatee ( Trichechus senegalensis)
• Pygmy manatee ( Trichechus pygmaeus) is a controversial species.

African manatees live near the coast and in the rivers of equatorial Africa (on the west coast), Amazonian manatees can be found on the east coast of South America (in the Amazon, Orinoco rivers and their tributaries), American manatees live in the West Indies (the Caribbean coast from Florida to Brazil). Some highlight Florida manatee into a separate species, but ITIS considers it a subspecies of the American manatee. Florida manatees reach 4.5 meters or more in length; They live in both fresh and salt water. Manatees were hunted for their fat and meat; Now hunting them is prohibited.

The American manatee is an endangered species. Although it is not afraid of any natural predators, human expansion has reduced its natural habitat in coastal areas. Many manatees are injured by motor boat propellers. Manatees swallow fishing gear, and the fishing line, once in the animal’s digestive system, forms a ball and begins to slowly kill it.

Manatees are often attracted to thermal power plants that release warm water. Having become accustomed to this constant source of unnatural heat, manatees stopped migrating to warm waters. Recently, power plants have begun to close, and