Page 20 - My FlipBook

Facts About Manatees

The species Sirenia,

comprises of Manatees and

Dugongs, and are commonly called Sea Cows or Sirens.

They are the only known aquatic mammals that are

Vegetarian (herbivore), they only eat plants.

Manatees and dugongs may be found in salt water or fresh

water depending on the species.

The main difference between manatees and dugongs is the

tale.

A Manatee has a paddle shaped tale.
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A dugong has a tail more like a dolphin.
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Dugongs and manatees closest relatives are the elephant and

the hyrax (a small gineapig like animal).

The latin name Sirenia os derived from the greek myth about

mermaids luring lonely sailors. Apparently some lonely sailors

have mistaken sea cows as mermaids, perhaps because of the

shape of the tail.

Rudyard Kipling features the Sea Cow in his book story The

White Seal, from the Jungle Book. Kodek the seal is told the

Sea Cow is the ugliest creature in the sea. But beauty, of

course is relative. Both, in the eye of the beholder, and of

course real beauty is inside!