The West Indian manatee is a manatee, and the largest surviving member of the aquatic mammal order Sirenia .
The West Indian manatee is a species distinct from the Amazonian manatee , and the African manatee . Based on genetic and morphological studies, the West Indian manatee is divided into two subspecies, the Florida manatee and the Antillean or Caribbean manatee . However, recent genetic research suggests that the West Indian manatee actually falls out into three groups, which are.. more
Similar species: Manatees And Dugongs
By Tony Rath
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Uploaded Aug 8, 2012. Captured Jun 14, 2011 11:42 in Playa Asuncion, Belize.
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"November is Manatee Awareness Month! It's a time to celebrate these gentle, aquatic mammals and to create an awareness of the challenges that these imperiled creatures face. There are three species of manatee: West Indian (two subspecies: Florida and Caribbean), Amazonian, and West African. Manatees are often called sea cows because of their slow, lumbering movements and penchant for grazing on aquatic grasses and vegetation. Able to move between salt, fresh, and brackish waters, manatees frequent coastal waters and rivers where they spend up to eight hours a day foraging and consuming up to 10% of their body weight every day. These peaceful herbivores can grow up to 4 m long (13 ft) and can weigh up to 590 kg (1,300 lbs)!
Unfortunately, manatees are under serious threat from pollution and human activities. They are curious creatures that use their mouths and flippers to explore their environment; so, anything that gets stuck in vegetation, including balloons, fishing line, and plastic bags, can be ingested. A manatee's intestines are over 100 feet long, and plastic simply can't pass through their digestive tract. Thus, plastic ingestion is a common cause of death for manatees. Entanglement is also a serious concern as they easily become trapped in fishing line and abandoned fishing gear. Entangled manatees will drown if they get stuck below the surface because, like all marine mammals, they must breathe air at the surface. Surfacing for air also makes them vulnerable to hunters and puts them in danger of being hit by boats. Furthermore, humans have degraded coastal habitats by blocking natural, warm springs and by building up the coastline. These changes result in habitat loss, reduced access to food, and they block a manatee's access to the warm springs that they depend on for temperature regulation.
Sadly, this is not a warm, fuzzy story, and as is the case with countless other endangered animals, humans are the biggest threat to the survival of manatees. The IUCN Red List lists all manatees as vulnerable or endangered, and thus facing the risk of extinction. Manatees are truly defenseless creatures, and they need people to step up and become responsible stewards. It's up to us to protect manatees and to save them from ourselves. Significant efforts are being made to save manatee populations, and with greater awareness, there is no reason not to hope that these gentle giants can be saved. Let's appreciate their grace and beauty, and spread the word of their plight. {Spotted in Belize by JungleDragon user, Tony Rath} #JungleDragon"
Posted 6 years ago