The West Indian manatee is also often called by the name American manatee. They have large, strong tails that power their swimming. You won’t find too many of them compiled even from those researchers that are quite fascinated with the African Manatee. Manatees are shallow, warm water species that are found along the coast, which is where they are in close proximity to their food. Although not a great deal is known about this species, it is hypothesized that the African manatee is very similar to the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). Description of the Manatee. The African manatee is the most endangered and least studied manatee species in the world. Both the West Indian and the West African manatees can live in water with various degrees of salinity, from fresh, to brackish, to ocean. by Manatee-World | Feb 27, 2014 | Species |. Key Facts & Information TAXONOMY. Occasionally eaten by crocodiles and sharks, their main predator is man, from poaching, habitat loss and other environmental hazards. Manatees are long-lived and reproduce slowly. The African Manatee can be up to 14 feet long. The West Indian manatee is also often called by the name American manatee. The African Manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) is a species of manatee and is the least studied of the four species of sirenians. Many people still hunt them for food in order to survive in the poor regions of Africa. It is gray in color and the body is covered by colorless hairs. It isn’t clear why more research hasn’t been done on the African Manatee. The complexities of such larger groups are a mystery in many ways to researchers, but they seem to work quite well for the African Manatee. They have a split lip that allows them to pick up food and they also use the nails on their flippers to assist with this process. They are: (a) West Indian manatee, (b) Amazonian manatee and (c) African manatee. The body of this species of manatee is very large and round. The range of the Amazon manatee is marked in red. There are only four species in the order Sirenia still existing, with the only non-manatee member being the dugong in a separate family Dugongidae. The West African Manatee, Trichechus senegalensis, lives in rivers, estuaries and coastal marine environments along the west coast of Africa. Due to the way in which human actions have polluted the water and the air they are suffering. There are three species of manatee: the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis); the West Indian manatee, or the American manatee (Trichechus manatus); and the African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis). 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. They mother generally forms a strong bond immediately with the calf. They are known to live only in freshwater areas. Facts Summary: The West African Manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) is a species of concern belonging in the species group "mammals" and found in the following area(s): Africa.This species is also known by the following name(s): Seacow. Wildscreen's Arkive project was launched in 2003 and grew to become the world's biggest encyclopaedia of life on Earth. There are three species of manatee; the West Indian manatee, the West African manatee, and the Amazon manatee. Manatees are born underwater. They feed on seagrasses and are hunted for food by humans. They also find large amounts of their vegetation from trees and plants that hang over the water instead of being submerged in the water. The body of this species of manatee is very large and round. With low metabolic rates and minimal fat protection from cold water, they … Manatees are gentle, non-aggressive animals. Once done mating, a bull does not concern itself anymore with the young manatee. However, they are also known to consume clams, small fish from nets, and mollusks. … Here are some Manatee Facts for Kids: Manatees are marine mammals. A female manatee is called a cow, while a male manatee is called a bull. The bond that develops between the mother and her calf is very strong and something that experts are in awe of. Portrait of a Manatee Undoubtedly the coolest of all manatee facts is that their seemingly hairless bodies are actually covered in thousands of short, whisker-like, "tactile hairs", that can help them "see" what's around them. They are also believed to be about 14 feet in length but many are only about 10 feet long. 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 bonds that they create with each other are very deep. The females will generally have one calf every 3 to 5 years. Despite eating in a slow and secretive manner, an Amazonian manatee each day is able to eat as much as 8% of its body weight. This range extends between Angola and Senegal. There is plenty still unknown about the behaviors of the African Manatee. The government simply doesn’t make them a priority due to the many other concerns they have. At birth, baby manatees weigh about 30 kilograms (66 lb) each. Manatees are usually found in seas and oceans but they are also river-dwelling creatures as in the case of Amazonian manatee. Mating can be difficult for the African Manatee as they seem to spread out more than the other species. OF THE AFRICAN MANATEE MASAHARU NISHIWAKI, MASASHI YAMAGUCHI, SHIGEMITSU SHOKITA Faculty of Science, University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa SENZO UCHIDA Okinawa Ocean EXPO Memorial Park Aquarium, Okinawa AND TERUO KATAOKA Toba Aquarium, Mie ABSTRACT The survey was made in travelling west African countries in 1980 and 1981 mainly on the distribution of African manatee, … Amazonian manatees appear to be descendants of Miocene trichechids isolated in a closed interior basin of South America. Some people believe it has to do with political protocols in the area. We thought you might like to learn more about this secretive sea cow. The African Manatee can be up to 14 feet long. They tend to be on the smaller side of the scale though when it comes to weight, around 750 to 790 pounds. There are three different species of manatees: the Amazonian manatee, the African manatee, and the West Indian manatee. During mating, cows are followed around by a dozen or more bulls. Many go there during the rainy season and they the water is gone and they aren’t able to get to other bodies of it before it is too late. Manatees are believed to have evolved from a wading, plant-eating animal. In fact, even getting photos of them is hard. Facts about Manatee Conservation and relevant information about Manatee in captivity and their protection. The upper lip has a … Add in the fact that we continue to take away their natural habitat and they have fewer areas to find food and to stay in water that is warm enough for them to survive. Trichechus senegalensis, the West African manatee. The African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis), also known as the West African manatee, is a species of manatee that is mostly herbivorous.African manatees inhabit much of the western region of Africa – from Senegal to Angola. The "African manatee" , also known as the "West African manatee" or "seacow", is a species of manatee; it is mostly herbivorous . They are: (a) West Indian manatee, (b) Amazonian manatee and (c) African manatee. African manatees live along the coast and in the rivers of western Africa. Manatee Information, anatomy, feeding, reproduction, habitat, conservation. 6. Manatee are Vulnerables in their natural habitat. The content in this site was created from the following resources. The African Manatee can be up to 14 feet long. Read More. The biggest concerns for them come from humans. Your contribution will be appreciated to improve our site. The African manatee is thought to be similar in appearance and behaviour to the better known American manatee. Interesting manatee facts: 6-10. Warm water is a must for the West Indian and West African manatee species. She will mate with several males during that period of time. They spend many hours per day searching for food and eating it. Like its relatives, this gentle manatee is threatened with extinction a… Parenting and Diet. There is no denying that there is plenty left to learn about their habits and their behaviors. Interesting manatee facts: 6-10. Their skin is smooth and, unlike … Every November, they make their way to Florida’s warmer waters for the winter marking Manatee Awareness Month. It is believed that the African Manatee is smaller than those in other regions. This diversity may be part of the key to their survival through evolution for millions of years. African Manatee Physical Description First of all, the truly fascinating African Manatee constitutes the second largest of all known varieties of this wonderful mammal. A West Indian manatee, always curious, investigates a kayak in Florida. They tend to be on the smaller side of the scale though when it comes to weight, around 750 to 790 pounds. Antillean manatees have been known to eat fish from nets and West African manatees have been known to eat clams (Reynolds and Odell, 1991). When you consider other species of the manatee that weigh as much as 1,200 pounds then that is a significant difference. Fun Facts for Kids. Facts about Manatees, West Indian Manatee, Amazonian Manatee, west African manatee. They are also found living around the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia. The Amazonian manatee come from the ‘Sirenia’ order and are also known as ‘seacows’. Manatees are believed to have evolved from a wading, plant-eating animal. All species are today considered to be endangered species. It takes about 13 months for the calf to be born. Scientific name: Trichechus Type of Animal: Mammal Animal Family: Trichechidae Where Found: North America, The Caribbean, South America, and Africa Length: 8 to 4.0 m (9.2 to 13.1 ft.) Weight: 400 to 590 kg (880 to 1,300 lb.) They are rarely seen and the least studied of the sirenians. They haven’t been widely explored though so a great deal of what information we have about them stems from captivity settings as well as from correlation with other species. When you consider other species of the manatee that weigh as much as 1,200 pounds then that is a significant difference. The body of African manatee is widest in the middle while the tail resembles a paddle. Its flexible flippers are for touching, embracing (other manatees of course) and in moving their food. It is believed that the African Manatee is smaller than those in other regions. Three out of four species of manatee are under the order Sirenia. Amazonian Manatee Characteristics The Amazonian manatees colour is brownish grey and they have […] Their skin is thick and beneath it they have a layer of fat. The West African manatee can be found in the coastal areas of West Africa. Although an Amazonian manatee has very small eyes, surprisingly it can see very well, and it even has a membrane that it is able to draw across its eyeballs for protection. The African manatee is the least well-known of the three manatee species in genus Trichechus. In addition, it also displays only a small sign of sexual dimorphism. As a result, their diet is more diversified than other species of manatee. Manatees have shorter snouts than their fellow sirenians, the dugongs. The African Manatee, a vulnerable species, is facing several threats. Manatee Habitat and Distribution Facts and Information . African Manatee Description. Poaching seems to be a big problem with the African Manatee as well. The average adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds. They are very social and will spend a great deal of time bonding. Although very little is known about this species, scientists think they are similar to the West Indian Manatees. African Manatee Description, Behavior, Feeding, Reproduction, African Manatee threats and more. There are three different species of manatees: the Amazonian manatee, the African manatee, and the West Indian manatee. Students and teachers are allowed to use this information for school projects and homework. The African Manatee is thought to live a very peaceful existence among the waters there. Manatees are also known as sea cows. There are many legends and stories that talk about them being a protector of man. These cultures believe that harming the manatee will bring back things to their people. Manatees Today. This group of bulls is called a mating herd. The Amazonian manatee species inhabit the Amazon River and the African manatee swims along the west coast and rivers of Africa. The other 3 species are the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), the West African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis), and the dugong (Dugong dugon), which inhabits coastal marine areas of the Indian and Pacific Ocean basins. The African Manatee is mainly found around the Western part of Africa. However, most experts agree that they are very similar to the other species of manatee in this regard. If such efforts aren’t in place then we may one day find that the African Manatee is only a part of history instead of still on Earth. When you consider other species of the manatee that weigh as much as 1,200 pounds then that is a significant difference. Here are some Manatee Facts for Kids: Manatees are marine mammals. It will instinctively know how to swim to the surface to get air. Manatees and their cousin the dugong, are exceedingly gentle, peaceful beings, often referred to as "sea cows". “African manatees feed on more than 90 species of freshwater and shoreline plants, from seagrasses and mangroves to freshwater plants and shoreline grasses,” Keith-Diagne says. They are grain in color and have more hair than the other species. They also live in salt water regions, but this is not very common. West Indian manatees roam around the eastern coast of Central America and southeast US (this includes the Florida manatee). Family: Dugongidae Dugong. In manatee: Evolution and paleontology The West African manatee is also similar to the ancestral forms and may have dispersed from South America to Africa via transoceanic currents. 6. They use them to grind up the food that they consume so that they can swallow it. All manatee species are highly endangered or vulnerable and facing a big risk of extinction, with the total manatee population projected to decline by about 30 percent in the next 20 years. Posted by BioExpedition | Oct 30, 2012 | Mammals, Manatee |. Manatees are the slow, lumbering, gentle giants of the aquatic ecosystem. by BioExpedition | Oct 30, 2012 | Mammals, Manatee | 0 | Facts and Information about African Manatees. There are three species of manatee in the world and can be found in coastal rivers and waters. ERRORS in the site, please contact us. They have been seen around the coast of Africa, Nigeria, and down to the Republic of Congo. They are known to be living in small rivers, the Amazon Basin, West Africa, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. As herbivores, they can eat about ten percent of their body weight every day, and are chomping a good portion of the day. The majority of it does come from various forms of vegetation. The name Sirenia originates from the confusion early sailors had between mermaids and manatees. It will take about 1 year for the single calf to be born, twins occur very rarely. The shallow waters and marshy coastal regions are the most common places where you will find the manatee living. On average they are believed to be from 800 to 1,200 pounds. Manatees are gentle, non-aggressive animals. African manatees are extremely slow, moving at between 4.8 and 8.0 km (3 and 5 mi) an hour, unless they fear predators, when they can travel at speeds of about 32 km (20 mi) an hour. They also have some markings of brown or gray on the abdomen. In actuality, it is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee—the Florida manatee—that lives in the U.S. There are three species of manatees: West Indian Manatees (Trichechus Manatus), West African Manatees (Trichechus Senegalensis), Amazonian or South American Manatees (Trichechus Inunguis). Africa has manatees, too. Generally speaking, for manatees that living in estuaries, the main source of food for them are the mangrove trees. • the West African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) Manatees inhabit the shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico ( West Indian manatee), the Amazon basin (Amazonian manatee), and West Africa (West African manatee). Manatee Information, anatomy, feeding, reproduction, habitat, conservation. They may appear to be brown or green in color at times though due to the amount of algae that is found in their natural habitat. Occasionally eaten by crocodiles and sharks, their main predator is man, from poaching, habitat loss and other environmental hazards. The Amaz… Fast Facts Description The manatee's body is streamlined, full around the middle and narrowing to a paddle-shaped tail. Program Description. In Sierra Leone, Africa, the West African manatee is considered a pest because they consume fields of planted rice. Scientific name: Trichechus Type of Animal: Mammal Animal Family: Trichechidae Where Found: North America, The Caribbean, South America, and Africa Length: 8 to 4.0 m (9.2 to 13.1 ft.) Weight: 400 to 590 kg (880 to 1,300 lb.) The young are weaned from 12 to 18 months of age but they will remain with their mother until they are about 2 years of age. Dugongs are found in the Indo-Pacific region of the world. The African manatee Trichechus senegalensis is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species but without adequate information regarding African manatee populations, effective conservation actions are impossible, putting the species at even greater risk. There are all types of water that they live in too including murky brown water and clear rivers. While you can’t blame them for looking for a way to survive themselves, each one they destroy brings the total number of African Manatees to a lower count. Amazonian manatees appear to be descendants of Miocene trichechids isolated in a closed interior basin of South America. It starts to narrow towards the back as it becomes the paddle shaped tail. They tend to be on the smaller side of the scale though when it comes to weight, around 750 to 790 pounds. They are more diverse in terms of the types of water they can survive in than the other species of manatees. Other Name: American manatee Scientific name: Trichechus manatus Type of Animal: Mammal Animal Family: Trichechidae Where Found: Along the coast of Florida, the Gulf Coast and the Caribbean Length: 2.7 to 3.5m (8.9 to 11.5ft) Here are 60 more fun facts … Even though all manatees are classified as herbivores, this species has a more diverse diet. West Indian and West African manatees need warm water because they have low metabolic rates and very little fat to protect them from cold. They also search for a variety of different plants found in their natural habitat. Check out all these cool facts: Manatees live in shallow coastal waters and rivers, feeding on sea grass and algae. The large body of those manatees is mostly made up of the stomach and intestines, making them look like they have much more body fat than they really do. There are three different manatee species that are currently found in entire world. It actually grows on the land and then extends into the waters. (200 to 590 kilograms). The African Manatee can be up to 14 feet long. 5 Birds Perfectly Adapted to Modern Cities. Only the equally remarkable creature known as West Indian Manatee attains a larger average size. The African manatee's large forelimbs, or flippers, are used to paddle and to bring food to the manatee's mouth, after which the vegetation is chewed by its strong molars, which are the only teeth it has. They look almost identical to the West Indian, but they have been barely studied, and not much is known about them. The manatee and dugong, commonly known as sea cows, belong to the mammalian order Sirenia. It is also important for us to learn ways to help stop the decline of their population. Mating can start around the age of 3 for the females and closer to 10 for the males. REPRODUCTION. Despite eating in a slow and secretive manner, an Amazonian manatee each day is able to eat as much as 8% of its body weight. They may move into larger groups as they migrate and go look for food or warmer water. About the same size and shape of the West Indian manatee, the West African manatee differs in some important respects: position of the eyes, snout, and cranial bones. African Manatee. Manatees weigh 400 to 550 kilograms (880 to 1,210 lb), and average 2.8 to 3.0 metres (9.2 to 9.8 ft) in length, sometimes growing to 4.6 metres (15 ft) and 1,775 kilograms (3,913 lb) (the females tend to be larger and heavier). They have smooth skin and a notched tail fluke. African Manatees are found in coastal marine and estuarine […] The average adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds. Manatee Facts At A Glance. On average they are believed to be from 800 to 1,200 pounds. The dugong is strictly marine, while West Indian and West African manatees can be found in both fresh and salt water. They tend to stick to the shallow areas regardless of the type of water they stay in. Manatee Facts At A Glance. The African manatee lives along the coast and in the rivers of western Africa. The Amazonian Manatee (Trichechus inunguis) is a species of manatee that lives in the freshwater habitats of the Amazon River and its tributaries. Amazonian manatees are aquatic animals. Manatees range in size from 8 to 13 feet (2.4 to 4 meters) and can weigh 440 to 1,300 lbs. The females will go into estrus and that attracts the males. West Indian manatee facts: learn about these gentle aquatic giants with awesome pictures and in-depth information … West Indian Manatee. Manatees belong to the genus Trichechus, under the order Sirenia which is under the kingdom Animalia. There are also stories about them being very closely related to the magical mermaids of the waters. There are times of the year that this part of the river will completely dry up due to the hot temperatures and the lack of rain. Warm water is a must for the West Indian and West African manatee species. African manatees occur in 21 countries in Africa The African manatee occurs in West and Central Africa. They have wide eyes and a short, round snout. Facts about Manatees, West Indian Manatee, Amazonian Manatee, west African manatee. Manatees are large marine mammals with easily distinguishable round, flattened tails. These three Sirenia species are distinguished by their geographic location. Even so, the males come together in small groups to court the females. The African Manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) is a big, roundly-shaped mammal, whose forelimbs could serve as flippers...and whose rear is horizontal and flat. They move very slowly in the water, at a rate of about 3 to 5 miles per hour. The African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) is a large aquatic mammal that occurs in West and Central Africa, it is the least studied large mammal in Africa.