РефератыИностранный языкMaManatee Essay Research Paper ManateeThe manatee popularly

Manatee Essay Research Paper ManateeThe manatee popularly

Manatee Essay, Research Paper


Manatee


The manatee popularly called the sea cow is any of the species of large


water animals in the genus Trichechus. There are three species of manatee with T.


inunguis found in the Amazon and Orinoco river systems; T. manatus is found in


central Florida and along the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean coasts; and T.


senegalenis found in the rivers of tropical West Africa. A manatee is a slow


moving, seal shaped mammal that lives in shallow coastal waters where rich plant


grows. It usually is at home in salt or fresh water but rarely straying far


from home.


A manatee is grayish-black stout thick skinned animals and almost


hairless. Its corpulent body tapers to a horizontally flattened, round tail.


The fore limbs are set close to it?s head and are used to push algae, such as


seaweed and other water plants toward their mouths. They have a small head,


with a straight snout and cleft upper lip with bristly hairs. Adults can grow


up to 15ft (4.6 meters) but they usually only grow to about

10 feet. They weigh


an average of 1300 pounds.


Manatees live in small family groups sometimes up to herds of 15-20.


After a gestation of up to 6 months, usually a single pinkish calf is born.


Manatees ferquently communicate by muzzle to muzzle contact and when alarmed


they emit chripy squeaks.


The number of manatees has been reduced over the past several years due


to heavy hunting for their hides, meat, and blubber oil. Some governments,


including the United States, have placed the manatees under the endangered


species list. One practical reason for this is that they have proved useful in


clearin girrigation and transport channels clogged with aquatic plant life.


There has also been an increase in manatee death due to passing boats that speed


through channels.


If we all do not help protect these sea cows today then they will not be


around for future generations to enjoy. Everyone must do their part in


protecting these mammals of they ocean. If we do not help save their dying


species who will?

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