FACTS
Manatees are large, seal-like body that tapers to a beaver-like tail. Two forelimbs with 3 or 4 nails on each. Thick skin, with stiff whiskers on upper lip.
They are grey or grey-brown.
Their size is about 9-10 feets long, weighing about 1,000 pounds. Can grow as long as 13 feet, weighing more then 3,00 pounds.
Completely harmless and nonaggressive, they are aften shy and reclusive.
Their habit is shallow, slow-moving rivers, bays, and water coastal ecosytms.
DUGONG
Dugong, Dugong dugon, live off the coasts' of Asia, Australia, and a little bit off the east coast of Africa. They live in the coastal and marine ecosystems.
STELLER'S SEA COW
Steller's sea cow, Hydrodamlis gigas, is extinct. They lived off the coast of Alaska. They were the only sirenin species to inhabit cold waters. They were hunted to extinction within 27 years of its discovery in 1741 in the Bering Strait.
AMAZONIAN MANATEE
Amazonian manatee, Trichechus inunguis, live in the Northwest and North of South America. The Amazonian manatee lives exclusively in inland, freshwater areas.
WEST AFRICAN MANATEE
West African manatee, Trichechus senegalensis, live on the west side of Africa. Little is known about the West African manatee but they inhabit tropical and subtropical waters.
WEST INDIAN MANATEE
There are 2 types of West Indian manatee, Trichechus manatus, one is the Florida manatee and the other is the Antillean manatee.
ANTILLEAN MANATEE
Antillean manatee, Trichechus manatus manatus, lives off the east and north coast of South America.
FLORIDA MANATEE
Florida manatee, Trichechus manatus latirostris, lives in the Gulf of Mexico and around the coast of Florida. Their marine vegation is Manatee grass, Turtle grass, Widgeon grass, and Shoal grass. Their freshwater Vegetation is Florida elodea, Southern naid, Eurasian watermilfoil, Tapegrass, Eelgrass, Coontail, Water hyacinth, and Water lettuce.
MANATEES PROBLEMS
Most of the manatees deaths are directly related to to human contact. A lot of there human related mortaliy are by loss of habitat, pollution, litter, water collision, harassment/vandalism and flood control structures. Some natural mortlity is cold weather and the Red Tide.
LAWS
Manatees are protected by the state and federal laws. The Endangered Species Act of 1973 is perhaps the most inmportant federal wildlife law that assists in the protection of manatees and other endangered and threatened species. Under the Endangered Species Act, it is illegal to "killl, hunt, collect, harass, harm, pursue, shoot, trap, wound, or capture" a memeber of an endangered species.
The Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 also provides federal protection for manatees and other marine mammals. Conviction on the federal level is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and/or one year in prison.
The manatee is protected by the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act of 1978, which says: "It is unlawful for any person, at any time, intentionally or negligently, to annoy, molest, harass, or disturb any manatee."
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