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Kingdom:<\/strong> Animalia<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Phylum:<\/strong> Chordata<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Class:<\/strong> Mammalia<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Order:<\/strong> Sirenia<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Family:<\/strong> Trichechidae<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Genus:<\/strong> Trichechus<\/em><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Common Names<\/h4>\n
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Manatee<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Sea Cow<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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West Indian Manatee<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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African Manatee<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Amazonian Manatee<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u00a0Geographic Distribution<\/h4>\n
Manatees live in warm, shallow waters. They are found in:<\/p>\n
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Florida and the Caribbean<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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West Africa<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Amazon River Basin<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
They prefer slow-moving rivers, estuaries, lagoons, and coastal waters.<\/p>\n
![\"Some](\"https:\/\/www.tampabay.com\/resizer\/v2\/a-lone-manatee-swims-in-the-discharge-BY7LHNNRC5DXBLDKOKASVRXVFA.JPG?auth=54d84ec66d64718402170f9dce6f19bf34a3699913c85db1f5c3a4b111b3016f&height=506&width=900&smart=true\")
Image showing a manatee swimming near the surface of clear water (Source: Tampa Bay Times)<\/em><\/p>\n\u00a0Physical Characteristics<\/h4>\n
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Length:<\/strong> 2.5 to 4 meters (8 to 13 feet)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Weight:<\/strong> 400\u2013600 kg (800\u20131,300 pounds)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Color:<\/strong> Gray or brown, with wrinkled skin<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Tail:<\/strong> Wide, flat, and paddle-shaped<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Body:<\/strong> Round and chubby, with small front flippers<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Head:<\/strong> Large with a blunt snout and whiskers<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Species of Manatees<\/h4>\n
1. West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Found in the southeastern U.S., Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean.<\/p>\n
![\"170+](\"https:\/\/media.istockphoto.com\/id\/467195069\/photo\/manatee-drinking-fresh-water.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=iepUYadfX-N5nfL-uMDStrZB-WQBbijtaELHGDvsQ5c=\")
Image showing a west Indian manatee near a boat (Source:iStock)<\/em><\/p>\n- \n
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Most commonly known type<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Often seen near Florida<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
2. Amazonian Manatee (Trichechus inunguis<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h5>\n
Lives in the Amazon River and nearby streams.<\/p>\n
<\/em><\/p>\n
Image showing amazonian manatees in freshwater river (Source: animals)<\/em><\/p>\n
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Smaller and darker<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Only freshwater manatee<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
3. African Manatee (Trichechus senegalensis<\/em>)<\/strong><\/p>\n
Found in West Africa\u2019s rivers and coastal waters.<\/p>\n
![\"3,400+](\"https:\/\/media.istockphoto.com\/id\/495744717\/photo\/manatee.jpg?s=612x612&w=0&k=20&c=93slCqxfV9YM89RNqMvVQHm2MGZQbQgkqCENZz1FQ-w=\")
Image showing an african manatee swimming in a river (Source: iStock)<\/em><\/p>\n- \n
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Least studied<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Lives in both fresh and salt water<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u00a0What do Manatees eat?<\/h4>\n
Manatees are herbivores. They eat only plants, such as:<\/p>\n
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Seagrass<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Water hyacinths<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Algae<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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River weeds<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
They can eat over 45 kg (100 pounds) of plants each day.<\/p>\n
\u00a0Fun facts about Manatees<\/h4>\n
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Manatees breathe air, but can hold their breath for 15\u201320 minutes.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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They have no natural enemies, their biggest threat is humans.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Their teeth are always replaced as they wear out, like a conveyor belt.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Despite their size, manatees are gentle and quiet.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Manatees can live up to 60 years in the wild.<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Importance to Humans<\/h4>\n
Positive Roles:<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Help control aquatic plant growth<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Attract tourists and promote conservation<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Used in traditional stories and beliefs<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Challenges:<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Sometimes injured by boat propellers<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Can suffer from pollution or habitat loss<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Sensitive to cold temperatures<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Health & common issues<\/h4>\n
Manatees are tough but still need care and protection, especially in areas with human activity.<\/p>\n
Common health problems include the following:<\/p>\n
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Boat injuries (cuts or broken bones)<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Cold stress syndrome<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Parasites and digestive issues<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Starvation when seagrass dies off<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Veterinary Tips (for sanctuaries or wildlife workers):<\/strong><\/p>\n
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Monitor for wounds and breathing issues<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Keep injured manatees warm<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Feed high-fiber aquatic plants<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Watch for algae blooms or pollution in water<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
\u00a0Conservation Status<\/h4>\n
Most manatees are vulnerable or threatened. Their main threats are:<\/p>\n
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Boat collisions<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Loss of seagrass beds<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Pollution<\/p>\n<\/li>\n
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Cold weather events<\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Many countries now protect manatees by law<\/strong>, with rescue centers and awareness programs in place.<\/p>\n
Manatee vs Dugong: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/h4>\n
\n\n\n\n
\n \nFeature<\/th>\n Manatee<\/th>\n Dugong<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n \n Tail<\/td>\n Flat and rounded<\/td>\n Shaped like a dolphin\u2019s<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Habitat<\/td>\n Rivers and coasts<\/td>\n Always in salt water<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Size<\/td>\n Bigger<\/td>\n Slightly smaller<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n \n Range<\/td>\n Americas, Africa<\/td>\n Indian & Pacific Oceans<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n \n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"9+](\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/wild-manatees-faces-together-underwater-600nw-2482836075.jpg\")
Image showing a manatee swimming with a baby (Source: Shutterstock)<\/em><\/p>\nIf you want to learn more about marine animals or you need help with animal education, check through our website or reach out to us at Doctor Hulk Veterinary Hospital. <\/strong>You can also simply call 08143397614.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Manatees are large, peaceful water animals that slowly swim through rivers, lakes, and coastal seas. People often call them \u201csea<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":30715,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":[],"product_brand":[],"product_cat":[163],"product_tag":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-29879","1":"product","2":"type-product","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"product_cat-m","8":"first","9":"instock","10":"shipping-taxable","11":"product-type-simple"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/29879","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/product"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29879"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/29879\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":30818,"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product\/29879\/revisions\/30818"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30715"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29879"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"product_brand","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_brand?post=29879"},{"taxonomy":"product_cat","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_cat?post=29879"},{"taxonomy":"product_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/doctorhulk.com\/zoopedia\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product_tag?post=29879"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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