The West African Manatee, known scientifically as Trichechus senegalensis, is the least well-known Trichechus manatee and can live in salt, brackish, or fresh waters along the western coast of Africa. The West African Manatee prefers calm waters and can usually be found grazing on sea grass in mangroves and lagoons. The West African Manatee is regarded as vulnerable by the IUCN due largely to human effects on the species. The West African Manatee is frequently killed as bycatch or hunted as a pest as it will sometimes steal fish out of nets or rice from fields. The West African Manatee is one of three manatee species that make up the family Trichechus, along with the Amazonian Manatee and the West Indian Manatee.
West African Manatees have a total length between 10’-13’ (3-4 m), body height of 2.1’-2.8’ (65-85 cm), and width of 2.8’-3.6’ (85-110 cm). The typical weight of the West African Manatee is in the range of 794-1,653 lb (360-750 kg). West African Manatee have lifespans between 20-30 years.
The West African Manatee, known scientifically as Trichechus senegalensis, is the least well-known Trichechus manatee and can live in salt, brackish, or fresh waters along the western coast of Africa. The West African Manatee prefers calm waters and can usually be found grazing on sea grass in mangroves and lagoons. The West African Manatee is regarded as vulnerable by the IUCN due largely to human effects on the species. The West African Manatee is frequently killed as bycatch or hunted as a pest as it will sometimes steal fish out of nets or rice from fields. The West African Manatee is one of three manatee species that make up the family Trichechus, along with the Amazonian Manatee and the West Indian Manatee.
West African Manatees have a total length between 10’-13’ (3-4 m), body height of 2.1’-2.8’ (65-85 cm), and width of 2.8’-3.6’ (85-110 cm). The typical weight of the West African Manatee is in the range of 794-1,653 lb (360-750 kg). West African Manatee have lifespans between 20-30 years.
West African Manatee
3D Model
West African Manatee
Common Questions
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Sea Cows Questions
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Sea Cows Questions
What are the characteristics of Sirenia?
The characteristics of Sirenia include having a robust body form as well as thick skin with very little hair. Sirenia also have 2 nostrils either at the top or front of their muzzle. Sirenia have no ear pinnae as well as no hind limbs and a horizontally flattened tail.
How do Sirenia obtain food?
Sirenians are vegetarians and obtain food by feeding on seagrasses as well as other marine plants. Sirenians gather food by being bottom-feeders and typically eat only what lives on the ocean floor while others feed by swimming from the water’s surface to the bottom of the water’s floor.
What is the greatest threat on Sirenia?
The greatest threats on Sirenia include human activities such as hunting, killing fishers, as well as collisions with boats and ships. Natural factors that are threats to Sirenia include predation, severe climatic events, infectious diseases, and microparasites. All these factors serve as threats to the Sirenian population.
What are the characteristics of Sirenia?
The characteristics of Sirenia include having a robust body form as well as thick skin with very little hair. Sirenia also have 2 nostrils either at the top or front of their muzzle. Sirenia have no ear pinnae as well as no hind limbs and a horizontally flattened tail.
How do Sirenia obtain food?
Sirenians are vegetarians and obtain food by feeding on seagrasses as well as other marine plants. Sirenians gather food by being bottom-feeders and typically eat only what lives on the ocean floor while others feed by swimming from the water’s surface to the bottom of the water’s floor.
What is the greatest threat on Sirenia?
The greatest threats on Sirenia include human activities such as hunting, killing fishers, as well as collisions with boats and ships. Natural factors that are threats to Sirenia include predation, severe climatic events, infectious diseases, and microparasites. All these factors serve as threats to the Sirenian population.
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Afrotheres Questions
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Afrotheres Questions
Why are Afrotheria different than other mammals?
Afrotheria are different than other mammals as the 7 groups that make up this clade are not physically in resemblance with one another so their relationship is not often known. The 7 groups that make up this order include the elephants, sea cows, hyraxes, aardvarks, elephant shrews, golden moles, and tenrecs.
How many species of Afrotheria are there?
In total there are 4,700 species of Afrotheria which make up about one-third of all the living orders of mammals. The Afrotheria species make up about 80 of the 1,250 species of mammals that live in Africa and Madagascar.
Are aardvarks and elephants related?
Aardvarks and elephants are related as they both belong to the group of primitive ungulates that are called Uranotherians. The split between them took place more than 90 million years ago and led to the Ungulate, Carnivore, Xenarthran, and Cetacean orders. Aardvarks and elephants are part of the Afrotheres clade.
Why are Afrotheria different than other mammals?
Afrotheria are different than other mammals as the 7 groups that make up this clade are not physically in resemblance with one another so their relationship is not often known. The 7 groups that make up this order include the elephants, sea cows, hyraxes, aardvarks, elephant shrews, golden moles, and tenrecs.
How many species of Afrotheria are there?
In total there are 4,700 species of Afrotheria which make up about one-third of all the living orders of mammals. The Afrotheria species make up about 80 of the 1,250 species of mammals that live in Africa and Madagascar.
Are aardvarks and elephants related?
Aardvarks and elephants are related as they both belong to the group of primitive ungulates that are called Uranotherians. The split between them took place more than 90 million years ago and led to the Ungulate, Carnivore, Xenarthran, and Cetacean orders. Aardvarks and elephants are part of the Afrotheres clade.
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Mammals Questions
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Mammals Questions
When did mammals first appear?
Mammals first appeared during the Triassic period which was about 252 million to 201 million years ago and were members of the reptilian order Therapsida. This order had a subclass, Synapsida which are sometimes referred to as mammal-like reptiles. They were part of the Carboniferous period and are considered one of the earliest reptilian groups.
Which mammal species lay eggs?
The only 2 mammal species that lay eggs are the duck-billed platypus and the echidna, also known as the spiny anteater. The reasons these 2 mammals still lay eggs may be due to their distant ancestors as well as other primitive traits like their reptile-like shoulders.
What are the most common mammal species?
The most common mammal species are humans as it is the most numerous species of mammal on Earth. As of 2022, the human population reached 7.9 billion. Human beings are the only species that are close to exceeding the number of members of the brown rat and the house mouse.
When did mammals first appear?
Mammals first appeared during the Triassic period which was about 252 million to 201 million years ago and were members of the reptilian order Therapsida. This order had a subclass, Synapsida which are sometimes referred to as mammal-like reptiles. They were part of the Carboniferous period and are considered one of the earliest reptilian groups.
Which mammal species lay eggs?
The only 2 mammal species that lay eggs are the duck-billed platypus and the echidna, also known as the spiny anteater. The reasons these 2 mammals still lay eggs may be due to their distant ancestors as well as other primitive traits like their reptile-like shoulders.
What are the most common mammal species?
The most common mammal species are humans as it is the most numerous species of mammal on Earth. As of 2022, the human population reached 7.9 billion. Human beings are the only species that are close to exceeding the number of members of the brown rat and the house mouse.
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Freshwater Animals Questions
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Freshwater Animals Questions
How are freshwater animals adapted to their environment?
Freshwater animals adapt to their environment through gills that obtain oxygen and allow them to live in rivers and streams in which the water is cooler and has a higher oxygen level. Freshwater animals also need to swim fast to catch food and utilize their environment to create their home.
Why are freshwater animals going extinct?
Freshwater animals are going extinct due to the creation of man-made elements that block migration routes for fish and disrupt habitats. The water withdrawal for human use also shrinks and degrades habitats as well as the draining of wetlands for development depletes habitats. Other reasons include overexploitation, pollution, and global warming.
How can we protect freshwater fish?
We can protect freshwater fish by establishing multiple solutions. These solutions include restricting the construction of dams and establishing protected wetlands. Other solutions to protect freshwater fish are regulating water withdrawal for human use and incentive for farming businesses to reduce the use of pesticides.
How are freshwater animals adapted to their environment?
Freshwater animals adapt to their environment through gills that obtain oxygen and allow them to live in rivers and streams in which the water is cooler and has a higher oxygen level. Freshwater animals also need to swim fast to catch food and utilize their environment to create their home.
Why are freshwater animals going extinct?
Freshwater animals are going extinct due to the creation of man-made elements that block migration routes for fish and disrupt habitats. The water withdrawal for human use also shrinks and degrades habitats as well as the draining of wetlands for development depletes habitats. Other reasons include overexploitation, pollution, and global warming.
How can we protect freshwater fish?
We can protect freshwater fish by establishing multiple solutions. These solutions include restricting the construction of dams and establishing protected wetlands. Other solutions to protect freshwater fish are regulating water withdrawal for human use and incentive for farming businesses to reduce the use of pesticides.
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Coastal Animals Questions
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Coastal Animals Questions
How do animals adapt to the coast?
Animals adapt to the coast by adjusting to living in salty water as well as being able to withstand being covered or uncovered by the tide. Further coastal adaptations also include being able to hide or escape quickly from predators, finding food, and staying in a safe place as the tides move.
Why are coasts important for wildlife?
Coasts are important for wildlife because they serve as nesting grounds for species of sea turtles as well as are habitats for animals like beach mice. Coasts are also important foraging areas for migratory shorebirds. Coasts are important as they are used in cohesion by all species of animals.
How does coastal erosion affect animals?
Coastal erosion affects animals and humans as it causes sea levels to rise, flooding, as well as stronger waves. Coastal erosion also causes the gradual loss of land that is important to many animals. Coastal erosion is when a portion of land is lost within a shoreline by either natural events or manmade decisions.
How do animals adapt to the coast?
Animals adapt to the coast by adjusting to living in salty water as well as being able to withstand being covered or uncovered by the tide. Further coastal adaptations also include being able to hide or escape quickly from predators, finding food, and staying in a safe place as the tides move.
Why are coasts important for wildlife?
Coasts are important for wildlife because they serve as nesting grounds for species of sea turtles as well as are habitats for animals like beach mice. Coasts are also important foraging areas for migratory shorebirds. Coasts are important as they are used in cohesion by all species of animals.
How does coastal erosion affect animals?
Coastal erosion affects animals and humans as it causes sea levels to rise, flooding, as well as stronger waves. Coastal erosion also causes the gradual loss of land that is important to many animals. Coastal erosion is when a portion of land is lost within a shoreline by either natural events or manmade decisions.
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Estuary Animals Questions
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Estuary Animals Questions
How do animals survive in estuaries?
Animals survive in estuaries by adapting to the harsh conditions of their habitat. Estuaries either have salt water or fresh water. Animals survive by adapting to live in the different types of conditions and remaining in the regions of the estuaries where they are most comfortable and have consistency.
Why do fish lay eggs in estuaries?
Fish lay eggs in estuaries because these habitats offer a great amount of food availability for the development of young fish while also providing protection from predators. Estuaries are often used as breeding grounds by many species of fish due to these factors and are considered highly valuable.
Why are estuaries important for birds?
Estuaries are important for birds because estuaries offer a mix of nutrients from both the land and sea, creating a rich ecosystem. Since estuaries house numerous species of fish, they also create a food source for birds. Birds also use the beaches next to estuaries for feeding, resting, and breeding.
How do animals survive in estuaries?
Animals survive in estuaries by adapting to the harsh conditions of their habitat. Estuaries either have salt water or fresh water. Animals survive by adapting to live in the different types of conditions and remaining in the regions of the estuaries where they are most comfortable and have consistency.
Why do fish lay eggs in estuaries?
Fish lay eggs in estuaries because these habitats offer a great amount of food availability for the development of young fish while also providing protection from predators. Estuaries are often used as breeding grounds by many species of fish due to these factors and are considered highly valuable.
Why are estuaries important for birds?
Estuaries are important for birds because estuaries offer a mix of nutrients from both the land and sea, creating a rich ecosystem. Since estuaries house numerous species of fish, they also create a food source for birds. Birds also use the beaches next to estuaries for feeding, resting, and breeding.
