In the course of a day, they may eat up to 8% of their body weight. Please note: This page has been archived and its content may no longer be up-to-date. (59 kg). They many accidentally move from a warm area of water to a colder one. They feed on a variety of submerged, floating, emergent, and shoreline vegetation. There are more than 60 species of plant life that manatees eat. These fully aquatic creatures have large, rotund bodies, giving them the nickname “sea cow.” Read on to learn about the manatee. The Amazonian manatee and the dugong do not have fingernails. Amazonian manatees do not enter salt water, instead preferring to live in fresh environments. Being in captivity doesn’t seem to hinder the mating rituals of the manatee. Trichechus inunguis. Manatees are herbivorous, meaning they feed on plants. Well, you can do the same with manatee meat. The Stellar cow, a now extinct member of the manatee family (Sirenia), lived in the Bering Sea. [Poor life] "The Amazonian Manatee has been badly treated for a long time. Some plants they eat include: Interestingly, it appears that the rostrum of each species of manatee is positioned to take advantage of the location of their preferred plants in the water column. As herbivores, they can eat about ten percent of their body weight every day, and are chomping a good portion of the day. Taxonomy. It has thin, wrinkled skin, with fine hairs scattered over its body and a white chest patch. There are three manatee species worldwide – West Indian, West African, and Amazonian. Sometimes called “sea cows,” these grey-colored, cylindrically-shaped mammals grow between 10 and 12 feet long and weigh approximately 1,000-1,800 pounds. Manatees are one of four living species in the Order Sirenia, which also includes the West African manatee, the Amazonian manatee, and the dugong. The Amazon manatee or South American manatee is an aquatic mammal that can be found in the rivers, swamps and wetlands of the Amazon River basin. Additionally, manatees extend further to the tributaries of the Amazon river. Some Amazonian manatees living in deep bodies of water apparently fast during dry seasons (November and December) when water levels drop as much as 9 to 15 m (30 to 50 ft.), eliminating their access to vegetation. Sometimes called “sea cows,” these grey-colored, cylindrically-shaped mammals grow between 10 and 12 feet long and weigh approximately 1,000-1,800 pounds. By doing so, they keep the grass short, which helps maintain the health of the sea grass beds. Mothers must help their calves to the surface so that they can take their first breath, but the infants can typically swim on their own only an hour later. When they live in rivers, they consume freshwater vegetation. Individuals in captivity are able to eat 9 to 15 kilograms per day of leafy vegetables. Manatees are born underwater. Its coloration varies from dark grey to black, with many animals having white or pink abdomens. Trichechus inunguis can eat up to eight percent of their body weight in aquatic vegetation in one day. Read more. The West Indian manatee is related to the West African manatee, the Amazonian manatee, the dugong, and Steller’s sea cow, which was hunted to extinction in 1768. The Amazonian manatee is a herbivore that feeds on aquatic vegetation near lake edges, such as aquatic grasses, and floating vegetation such as water lilies. Their bodies aren’t designed to be able to handle the cold temperatures. Amazonian manatee, South American manatee, Lamantin De L'Amazone, Lamantino Amazónico, Manatí Amazónico, Vaca Marina . There are three different species of this animal, the Amazonian manatee, the African and the West Indian. According to National Geographic, a manatee can eat a tenth of its own weight in 24 hours. This would be about 150 pounds of food a day for the average, 1,000-pound manatee. Another sirenian, the Steller’s sea cow, became extinct in the 1700s. They have large, strong tails that power their swimming. Basically this means that the snout of each species of manatee is well adapted to easily eating the types of plants found in its particular range. We use cookies to analyse how visitors use our website and to help us provide the best possible experience for users. Manatees are believed to have evolved from a wading, plant-eating animal. Amazonian manatee range The Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) is a species of manatee that lives in the Amazon Basin in Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Colombia and Ecuador. The murky waters often make it hard to see the manatee and therefore accurate population numbers are unknown; however, they are believed to be in decline due to hunting and habitat loss. There Are 3 Species of Manatees. Manatees are herbivorous, meaning they feed on plants. Amazonian Manatees – jaguars and sharks. There are three manatee species worldwide – West Indian, West African, and Amazonian. Finally, West African manatees will inhabit both fresh and salt water. Answer. The etymology of the name is unclear, with connections having been made to Latin manus, and to a wor Its scientific species name, inunguis means "no nails," referring to the fact that this is the only manatee species that does not have nails on its forelimbs. This version of the page will remain live for reference purposes as we work to update the content across our website. The eating habits of the Amazonian Manatee are very different than those of other species. Geographic place. They forage for about 7 hours a day, eating 7-15% of their body weight. They feed mostly during the wet season, when there is plenty of new vegetation, storing the food in their fat reserves. Because manatees have a very low metabolic rate, it is … They learn how to eat, migrate, and take care of all their needs within the first two years of life. The Amazonian Manatee (Family Trichechidae, Order Sirenia) occurs in the basins of the Amazon and Orinoco rivers. Manatees are herbivores meaning that manatees usually eat plants. © 1986 Panda Symbol WWF – World Wide Fund For Nature (formerly World Wildlife Fund), Conserving the natural resources of the Guianas (South Amercia), Integrated Coastal Area and Marine Biodiversity Management, Manatees are also referred to as "sea cows". Most of the programs in place though focus on helping injured manatees back into the wild though instead of promoting in house breeding. All three species are mainly herbivorous and live on a wide variety of aquatic plants. Latin name. Being in captivity doesn’t seem to hinder the mating rituals of the manatee. Amazonian manatees eat a TON: Even though their eating is done secretively and slowly, manatees can eat up to 8% of their body weight each day! distribtuion. Asked by Wiki User. There is a rainy season that will allow the types of plants that they feed on to grow rapidly. Manatees are believed to have evolved from a wading, plant-eating animal. Amazonian manatees prefer warm and fresh water. So you can imagine what a treat manatee meat was. Amazonian Manatees are aquatic mammals, closely related to the elephant and the hyrax, that spend their entire lives in the warm, shallow waters of the Amazon River Basin. Amazonian Manatees are the smallest species of manatee. Manatees eat turtle grass, different types of algae, water hyacinth and other types of plants in the water. This aquatic mammal inhabits swamps, rivers, and other wetlands of the Amazon River Basin. The eating habits of the Amazonian Manatee are very different than those of other species. Amazonian manatees are shy eaters: Amazonian manatees are one of only four species total that are plant-eating marine animals (3 manatee species and the similar dugong). Manatee meat was a delicacy because it was the only source of meat on the island at a time when fish was eaten three times a day. Communication. Manatees are herbivores. Manatees also swim slowly and are often noticed by boaters only when it is too late. The average adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds. The Amazon has wet and dry seasons, so food is sometimes in short supply, but they are able to fast for months at a time by living on their body fat reserves." They learn how to eat, migrate, and take care of all their needs within the first two years of life. Manatees and dugongs are the only plant-eating marine mammals. Manatee deaths also may occur when they swallow fishing lines, plastic bags or find themselves tangled up in fishing lines. Since they live almost entirely underwater, eating involves secretively raising just their nostrils above the surface as they search for vegetation near lake edges. Distribution of the Manatee. The range of the Amazon manatee is marked in red. Top Answer. Due to their secretive nature and the murky water in the Amazon Basin, its hard to know how many Amazonian manatees there are in existence. In fact, about 25 percent of all annual manatee deaths in Florida are boat-related, with more deaths occurring from impact wounds than from propeller injuries. Main water courses during the wet season, eating 7-15 % of their body weight a day eating... Area of water to a wide variety of aquatic plants colder one in addition to grasses, manatees swim! Area is the smallest of the Amazon River Basin Geographic, a manatee can eat to... Treat manatee meat was website and to help them eat, meaning feed... 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