Researched and Presented by Mrs. Moureaux Meet the Endangered Manatee Researched and Presented by Mrs. Moureaux

Manatees Slow-moving aquatic Mammals that evolved from four-footed animals over 60.000,000 years ago May be over 13ft long and weigh 3,500 lbs Grey-brown color Two flippers and paddle-shaped tail Whiskers and flexible lips that grasp plants as they eat

Manatee & Dugong Most complete transition to marine life along with whales and dolphins Related to the elephant, but common ancestor didn’t look like either of them Once many more species around Large layer of blubber Origin of the mermaid myth Herbivores Nostrils on top of snout have valves to keep water out Both species have one calf at a time Tend to have a single calf every 3 years Description & Fascinating Facts The Dugong, Dugong dugon, range in length from 2.4-4 m in length. Sexual dimorphism is either absent or females may slightly outsize males and can weigh over 270 kg. Dugongs are born a pale cream color, but they darken with age to a deep slate gray dorsally and laterally. Short hair is sparsely distributed over the body, save the bristles on the muzzle. The skin is thick, tough and smooth. The front-limbs have evolved into flippers that are 35-45 cm long. These are used for propulsion by young, but the adults use the fluke-like tail for locomotion, using the flippers for steering. The muscular upper lip is cleft and protrudes over the down turned mouth. The premaxilla is enlarged and downturned, the nasal bones are absent, the braincase is small and the zygomatic arch is thick and deep. The bones of the skeleton are pachyostotic (extremely thickened and dense). Although superficially they resemble whales, sirenians have evolved independently. They are descended from the group of ancient land mammals that also gave rise to the elephants. World Range & Habitat Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean: Found discontinuously in coastal waters of east Africa from the Red Sea to northernmost South, northeastern Indian, along the Malay peninsula, around the northern coast of Australia to New Guinea and many of the island groups of the South Pacific. Range was much greater in the past. Dugongs inhabit shallow, tropical marine coastal water mainly confined to sea grass beds, which occur in calm and shallow coastal areas, such as embayment and lagoons. Dugongs and are more strictly marine than manatees, it seldom enters rivers. Feeding Behavior Dugongs feed on the phanerogamous (having visible flowers containing distinct stamens and pistils) sea grasses of the families Potamogetonaceae and Hydrocharitaceae. Also reported to occasionally eat algae, and crabs have also been found in the stomachs of dugongs. Despite its diet, the dugong has a relatively simple stomach. The lower lip and distal parts of the palate have horny pads used to grasp vegetation, which is then uprooted with the strong upper lip. Dugongs have 10-14 teeth in adults. The molars are rootless, circular in cross-section and lack enamel, males have long, tusklike incisor teeth. Reproduction The Dugong is a long-lived animal with a life span of up to 70 years, a minimum pre-reproductive period of 9-10 years, though it can occur as late as 15 years and an estimated mean calving interval of 3-7 years. Breeding occurs throughout the year and peak months for birth vary geographically. The exact length of gestation is unknown, but it is presumed to be about 1 year. Single calves are the norm and twins are rare. Parturition (the birth process)takes place in shallow water, and newborn calves are able to swim immediately to the surface for their first breath of air. Newborn calves are about 100-120 cm long and weigh 20-35 kg. Young may remain with the mother for a year. Warnings & Comments Dugongs are hunted throughout their range for meat, which has been likened to veal. They are also hunted for oil, hides for leather, and for their bones and teeth, which are made into ivory artifacts and charcoal for sugar refining. Some Asian cultures prize dugong products for medicinal purposes. Has been heavily exploited in the Philippines, almost to extinction. Endangered. Dugongs have a good fossil record going back to Eocene terrestrial ancestors.

Dugong Location: coastal and inland waters of the western Indo-Pacific region Dugongs are exclusively marine and have a dolphin-like tail Dugongs tend to dig seagrass rhizomes Predator includes tiger sharks

10,000 Dugong Range

Family Dugongidae Dugong dugong Steller's Sea Cow tHydrodamalis gigas Discovered 1741, extinct 1768. 8.9 ft, 551-661lbs At one time, the Steller's sea cow was found in the cold waters of the Bering Sea, but it was hunted to extinction within 27 years of its discovery in 1741. The largest sirenian on record, the Steller's sea cow grew up to nine meters (30 feet) in length and weighed around four metric tons (approximately 4.4 tons). 30ft, 4.4 tons

Manatee Location: Florida, Central and South America Manatees have paddle-like tails and frequent freshwater Manatees tend to crop and grab with prehensile lips Manatees are larger than dugongs Few predators Threats: Careless boaters Habitat loss

Manatee 9.8 ft, 800-1200lbs 3,000 in U.S.

Relationship between Sirenians and elephants (mtDNA) Asian elephant African elephant tmammoth tmastadon tStellar’s sea cow Dugong Ancestral mammals West Indian manatee Brazilian manatee West African manatee Other mammals 80 60 40 20 Million of years before present

What do Manatees Eat? Manatees are vegetarians. They eat all kinds of aquatic plants but their favorite is the water hyacinth. Manatees eat SO MANY plants… (100 pounds a day!) that they help to keep the waterways clear for boats

Where do Manatees Live? Manatees can live in both salt water and fresh water. In the summer when the ocean is warm they live mostly along the coastal waters of Florida, the Gulf of Mexico and parts of the Caribbean Sea. In the winter they swim into the warmer water of the rivers and springs that empty into the ocean.

Some Really Cool Stuff About the Manatee Manatees can hold their breath under water for 20 minutes! (but usually surface every 4 minutes or less to breathe) Though manatees look a lot like seals or walruses they are most closely related to elephants! Sailors long ago who saw manatees for the first time thought they were mermaids! Manatee babies get milk from their moms from under her flippers!

Manatees are Threatened by… Motorboat propellers Polluted water Fishing lines that trap them under water Red Tides Loss of habitat

What Can You Do to Help Save the Manatee? Find out all you can about the manatee and share the knowledge with others Join a conservation group that is working to protect manatees Join a clean up campaign in your area to keep our waterways clean Find out about laws to protect the manatee. Write to lawmakers and ask them to do more.

Many Manatees die each year because of… Pollution Cold weather (which gives them the Flu) Red tide (plankton that poisons manatees and fish) Getting hit by boats And running out of food during the winter We can help them by picking up trash, guiding them to warmer areas, watching your speed limit while boating, and giving them fresh water to drink.

They breath like we do They have hair They are warm blooded They don’t lay eggs They give milk to their babies They have thick layers of fat They have whiskers They breath every 3-4 minutes They sleep under water When they sleep they float up every 20 minutes They are herbivores Their lungs are 2/3 of their body They circle each other while playing They breath through their nostrils They STINK!!! When they swim they get algae and barnacles stuck to their backs

They never stop growing They are solid and heavy They look like sea elephants Scientist think long ago manatees were land animals Manatees have toenails Their noses look like short trunk Manatees communicate by high pitched sounds

HIBERNATING In the Winter Manatees go a far north as the Carolinas or as far west as Louisiana, they like warm water such as 72 degrees They need to gather or store a lot of food for the winter MATING Mating season- no particular period Gestation- about 1 year Number of offspring- I calf Born weighing 60-70 pounds and 3-4 feet They nurse underwater and their mom helps them to the surface

Rarely do single Manatees venture out in 68 degrees or colder water.

Let’s Work So It’s Not The End Of the Manatee