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The Florida Manatee: endangered species Essays

Decent Essays

The manatee has been on the endangered species list since the year

2001. This is caused from pollution in the water, power boats, and slow

reproductivity. As a result, humans are putting an effort into saving these sea

cows.

The Florida Manatee’s scientific name is Manatus latirostris.

The scientific genus name Trichechus, means hair in Latin. The name manatee

comes from the Haitian word, "manati". A common term for manatees and

dugongs is the “sea cow”. This name is most likely from the fact that manatees

are herbivores, just like cows.

Most manatees live in warm tropical and subtropical waters. Areas such

as rivers, bays, canals, and estuaries are populated by these sea cows. They

can adapt to …show more content…

Manatees use their flexible lips to

collect floating vegetation. They receive their fresh water from resources such as

water hoses, sewage outfalls, and culverts.

Florida manatees can weigh 800-1,200 pounds and on average are 10

feet in length. However, there is another species of manatee that are particularly

smaller in size. They are the Amazonian manatees, which are found in Brazil.

They weigh on average of 900 pounds and are 8 feet in length.

Manatees have many unique characteristics. For instance, their tails are

rounded and move up and down to allow them to travel under water. Manatees

have 24-32 molars in the back of their mouths. The front molars are worn away

by all the chewing they do while feeding. Over time the back molars move

forward, creating new molars in the front. Manatees have little to no hair at all on

their bodies. Most of their hair is located on the snout.

Although manatees color may come across as brown, their true coloration

is gray. Scientists believe algae and other organisms are growing under the skin

causing their color to slowly change. Amazonian manatees usually have white or

pink patches on their belly.

There are currently 2,500- 3,000 manatees living in the state of Florida.

This number is constantly decreasing. This decrease is a cause of careless

humans. Nearly 25% of manatee deaths are caused from motor boats. The boat

propeller may come in

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