They haven’t been widely explored though so a great deal of what information we have about them stems from captivity settings as well as from correlation with other species. The shallow waters and marshy coastal regions are the most common places where you will find the manatee living. They have wide eyes and a short, round snout. Another type of manatee is the West African manatee. Manatees weigh 400 to 550 kilograms (880 to 1,210 lb), and average 2.8 to 3.0 metres (9.2 to 9.8 ft) in length, sometimes growing to 4.6 metres (15 ft) and 1,775 kilograms (3,913 lb) (the females tend to be larger and heavier). While you can’t blame them for looking for a way to survive themselves, each one they destroy brings the total number of African Manatees to a lower count. Manatees are also known as sea cows. When you consider other species of the manatee that weigh as much as 1,200 pounds then that is a significant difference. The Amazonian Manatee (Trichechus inunguis) is a species of manatee that lives in the freshwater habitats of the Amazon River and its tributaries. Their names indicate the regions in which they live. The West Indian manatee is also often called by the name American manatee. The "African manatee" , also known as the "West African manatee" or "seacow", is a species of manatee; it is mostly herbivorous . Amazonian manatees are smaller, reaching a length of 2.8 metres (9.2 feet) and a weight of 480 kg (1,056 pounds), and, unlike the other two species, they are darker gray in colour, commonly have a white patch on the chest, and lack nails on the flippers. Key Facts & Information TAXONOMY. There are three different manatee species that are currently found in entire world. African manatees live along the coast and in the rivers of western Africa. The Amazonian manatee is the smallest type of manatee, growing to just about nine feet long and 1,100 pounds. The African manatee is thought to be similar in appearance and behaviour to the better known American manatee. The West Indian manatee is related to the West African manatee, the Amazonian manatee, the dugong, and Steller’s sea cow, which was hunted to extinction in 1768. They tend to stick to the shallow areas regardless of the type of water they stay in. They also have some markings of brown or gray on the abdomen. The Amazonian manatee species inhabit the Amazon River and the African manatee swims along the west coast and rivers of Africa. The body of this species of manatee is very large and round. They mother generally forms a strong bond immediately with the calf. It starts to narrow towards the back as it becomes the paddle shaped tail. In addition, it also displays only a small sign of sexual dimorphism. The African Manatee, a vulnerable species, is facing several threats. West Indian manatees roam around the eastern coast of Central America and southeast US (this includes the Florida manatee). Manatees range in size from 8 to 13 feet (2.4 to 4 meters) and can weigh 440 to 1,300 lbs. Many go there during the rainy season and they the water is gone and they aren’t able to get to other bodies of it before it is too late. Due to the way in which human actions have polluted the water and the air they are suffering. Amazonian manatees appear to be descendants of Miocene trichechids isolated in a closed interior basin of South America. The Amazonian manatee come from the ‘Sirenia’ order and are also known as ‘seacows’. The other 3 species are the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), the West African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis), and the dugong (Dugong dugon), which inhabits coastal marine areas of the Indian and Pacific Ocean basins. Check out all these cool facts: Manatees live in shallow coastal waters and rivers, feeding on sea grass and algae. Here are some Manatee Facts for Kids: Manatees are marine mammals. Like its relatives, this gentle manatee is threatened with extinction a… Facts Summary: The West African Manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) is a species of concern belonging in the species group "mammals" and found in the following area(s): Africa.This species is also known by the following name(s): Seacow. Three out of four species of manatee are under the order Sirenia. Amazonian Manatee Characteristics The Amazonian manatees colour is brownish grey and they have […] Other articles where West African manatee is discussed: manatee: Evolution and paleontology: The West African manatee is also similar to the ancestral forms and may have dispersed from South America to Africa via transoceanic currents. (200 to 590 kilograms). A female manatee is called a cow, while a male manatee is called a bull. Add in the fact that we continue to take away their natural habitat and they have fewer areas to find food and to stay in water that is warm enough for them to survive. The African Manatee is the one species that we know the least about. She will mate with several males during that period of time. by Manatee-World | Feb 27, 2014 | Species |. They tend to be on the smaller side of the scale though when it comes to weight, around 750 to 790 pounds. Occasionally eaten by crocodiles and sharks, their main predator is man, from poaching, habitat loss and other environmental hazards. On average they are believed to be from 800 to 1,200 pounds. Even though all manatees are classified as herbivores, this species has a more diverse diet. In many areas of Africa though this manatee is highly regarded. They do fall victim to sharks and crocodiles from time to time though. Although an Amazonian manatee has very small eyes, surprisingly it can see very well, and it even has a membrane that it … Amazonian manatees are aquatic animals. It takes about 13 months for the calf to be born. Read More. The West Indian manatee is related to the West African manatee, the Amazonian manatee, the dugong, and Steller’s sea cow, which was hunted to extinction in 1768. These fully aquatic creatures have large, rotund bodies, giving them the nickname “sea cow.” Read on to learn about the manatee. The name Sirenia originates from the confusion early sailors had between mermaids and manatees. REPRODUCTION. Mating can be difficult for the African Manatee as they seem to spread out more than the other species. These fully aquatic creatures have large, rotund bodies, giving them the nickname “sea cow.” Read on to learn about the manatee. Antillean manatees have been known to eat fish from nets and West African manatees have been known to eat clams (Reynolds and Odell, 1991). The range of the Amazon manatee is marked in red. They are also believed to be about 14 feet in length but many are only about 10 feet long. Portrait of a Manatee Undoubtedly the coolest of all manatee facts is that their seemingly hairless bodies are actually covered in thousands of short, whisker-like, "tactile hairs", that can help them "see" what's around them. Despite eating in a slow and secretive manner, an Amazonian manatee each day is able to eat as much as 8% of its body weight. The African Manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) is a big, roundly-shaped mammal, whose forelimbs could serve as flippers...and whose rear is horizontal and flat. The manatee has a large, flexible, prehensile upper lip, used to gather food and eat and for social interaction and communication. Interesting manatee facts: 6-10. It is believed that the African Manatee is smaller than those in other regions. The government simply doesn’t make them a priority due to the many other concerns they have. In the U.S., manatees are found primarily in water above 68 degrees Fahrenheit. African manatees occur in 21 countries in Africa The African manatee occurs in West and Central Africa. The upper lip has a … Its flexible flippers are for touching, embracing (other manatees of course) and in moving their food. During mating, cows are followed around by a dozen or more bulls. The bonds that they create with each other are very deep. They may move into larger groups as they migrate and go look for food or warmer water. The dugong is strictly marine, while West Indian and West African manatees can be found in both fresh and salt water. There are times of the year that this part of the river will completely dry up due to the hot temperatures and the lack of rain. Manatees and their cousin the dugong, are exceedingly gentle, peaceful beings, often referred to as "sea cows". The African manatee is the most endangered and least studied manatee species in the world. They have large, strong tails that power their swimming. Posted by BioExpedition | Oct 30, 2012 | Mammals, Manatee |. They are: (a) West Indian manatee, (b) Amazonian manatee and (c) African manatee. by BioExpedition | Oct 30, 2012 | Mammals, Manatee | 0 | Facts and Information about African Manatees. Like elephants and hyraxes, the manatee is an herbivore -- in fact, manatees are the only marine mammal herbivore species in existence, according to Sirenian International. They live in waters that are about 10-16 feet deep, and these waters can be freshwater, saltwater, or brackish. Manatees are gentle, non-aggressive animals. Both the West Indian and the West African manatees can live in water with various degrees of salinity, from fresh, to brackish, to ocean. Manatee Habitat and Distribution Facts and Information . The West African Manatee, Trichechus senegalensis, lives in rivers, estuaries and coastal marine environments along the west coast of Africa. There are three different species of manatees: the Amazonian manatee, the African manatee, and the West Indian manatee. OF THE AFRICAN MANATEE MASAHARU NISHIWAKI, MASASHI YAMAGUCHI, SHIGEMITSU SHOKITA Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa SENZO UCHIDA Okinawa Ocean EXPO Memorial Park Aquarium, Okinawa AND TERUO KATAOKA Toba Aquarium, Mie ABSTRACT The survey was made in travelling west African countries in 1980 and 1981 mainly on the distribution of African manatee, … The Amaz… When you consider other species of the manatee that weigh as much as 1,200 pounds then that is a significant difference. The African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis), also known as the West African manatee, is a species of manatee that is mostly herbivorous.African manatees inhabit much of the western region of Africa – from Senegal to Angola. They use them to grind up the food that they consume so that they can swallow it. They are known to be living in small rivers, the Amazon Basin, West Africa, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Generally speaking, for manatees that living in estuaries, the main source of food for them are the mangrove trees. The majority of it does come from various forms of vegetation. There are three species of manatee; the West Indian manatee, the West African manatee, and the Amazon manatee. Manatees belong to the genus Trichechus, under the order Sirenia which is under the kingdom Animalia. We thought you might like to learn more about this secretive sea cow. Manatees are also known as sea cows. They are known to live only in freshwater areas. Fun Facts for Kids. They also live in salt water regions, but this is not very common. African Manatee. This results in a slow rate of reproduction and that can be a significant factor when you are talking about efforts to increase their overall population. African Manatee Description. Trichechus senegalensis, the West African manatee. Students and teachers are allowed to use this information for school projects and homework. Once done mating, a bull does not concern itself anymore with the young manatee. Manatee Facts At A Glance. It will instinctively know how to swim to the surface to get air. 6. Only the equally remarkable creature known as West Indian Manatee attains a larger average size. With the help of over 7,000 of the world’s best wildlife filmmakers and photographers, conservationists and scientists, Arkive.org featured multi-media fact-files for more than 16,000 endangered species. There are only three species of manatees remaining today: West Indian, West African and Amazonian. About the same size and shape of the West Indian manatee, the West African manatee differs in some important respects: position of the eyes, snout, and cranial bones. Facts about Manatees, West Indian Manatee, Amazonian Manatee, west African manatee. Wildscreen's Arkive project was launched in 2003 and grew to become the world's biggest encyclopaedia of life on Earth. They are also found living around the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia. Their skin is thick and beneath it they have a layer of fat. Interesting manatee facts: 6-10. Cows are pregnant for about 12 months. … As a result, their diet is more diversified than other species of manatee. Many of the African Manatees that have ventured up the Niger River end up starving to death. They tend to be on the smaller side of the scale though when it comes to weight, around 750 to 790 pounds. Manatees are usually found in seas and oceans but they are also river-dwelling creatures as in the case of Amazonian manatee. They are rarely seen and the least studied of the sirenians. The West African Manatee, Trichechus senegalensis, lives in rivers, estuaries and coastal marine environments along the west coast of Africa.They are rarely seen and the least studied of the sirenians. The manatee and dugong, commonly known as sea cows, belong to the mammalian order Sirenia. Other Name: American manatee Scientific name: Trichechus manatus Type of Animal: Mammal Animal Family: Trichechidae Where Found: Along the coast of Florida, the Gulf Coast and the Caribbean Length: 2.7 to 3.5m (8.9 to 11.5ft) Scientific name: Trichechus Type of Animal: Mammal Animal Family: Trichechidae Where Found: North America, The Caribbean, South America, and Africa Length: 8 to 4.0 m (9.2 to 13.1 ft.) Weight: 400 to 590 kg (880 to 1,300 lb.) These cultures believe that harming the manatee will bring back things to their people. They may look fat and insulated, but the large body of the manatee is mostly made up of their stomach and intestines! All species are today considered to be endangered species. In fact, even getting photos of them is hard. The African Manatee can be up to 14 feet long. The African manatee's large forelimbs, or flippers, are used to paddle and to bring food to the manatee's mouth, after which the vegetation is chewed by its strong molars, which are the only teeth it has. African manatees are a species of manatees that are mainly found in the western region of Africa, from Angola to Senegal. They are also believed to be about 14 feet in length but many are only about 10 feet long. The West Indian manatee is also often called by the name American manatee. All manatee species are highly endangered or vulnerable and facing a big risk of extinction, with the total manatee population projected to decline by about 30 percent in the next 20 years. African Manatee – Trichechus senegalensis. Warm water is a must for the West Indian and West African manatee species. African Manatee Description, Behavior, Feeding, Reproduction, African Manatee threats and more. The content in this site was created from the following resources. They tend to be on the smaller side of the scale though when it comes to weight, around 750 to 790 pounds. There are also stories about them being very closely related to the magical mermaids of the waters. They look almost identical to the West Indian, but they have been barely studied, and not much is known about them. However, they are also known to consume clams, small fish from nets, and mollusks. It actually grows on the land and then extends into the waters. They are grey/brown in colour and they have a sparse scattering of short hair on their body. African Manatee Physical Description First of all, the truly fascinating African Manatee constitutes the second largest of all known varieties of this wonderful mammal. There is no denying that there is plenty left to learn about their habits and their behaviors. If it is too cold their body can’t handle the stress so they have to move to a warmer location. Manatees Today. Manatees are the slow, lumbering, gentle giants of the aquatic ecosystem. Typically, manatees stay in rivers, seas and oceans along the coast of several countries. There are three species of manatees: West Indian Manatees (Trichechus Manatus), West African Manatees (Trichechus Senegalensis), Amazonian or South American Manatees (Trichechus Inunguis). Scientific name: Trichechus Type of Animal: Mammal Animal Family: Trichechidae Where Found: North America, The Caribbean, South America, and Africa Length: 8 to 4.0 m (9.2 to 13.1 ft.) Weight: 400 to 590 kg (880 to 1,300 lb.) • the West African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) Manatees inhabit the shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico ( West Indian manatee), the Amazon basin (Amazonian manatee), and West Africa (West African manatee). Despite eating in a slow and secretive manner, an Amazonian manatee each day is able to eat as much as 8% of its body weight. 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