Trichechus
Sign in to saveManatees (, family Trichechidae, genus Trichechus) are large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows. There are three accepted living species of Trichechidae, representing three of the four living species in the order Sirenia: the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis), the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), and the West African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis). They measure up to long, weigh as much as , and have paddle-like tails.
AI overview
Trichechus is a genus of large, fully aquatic marine mammals commonly called manatees or sea cows that eat mostly plants. There are three living species of Trichechus found in different parts of the world, and they are among only four living species in their order, making them scientifically significant representatives of an ancient group of marine life.
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Taxonomy · GBIF
GENUS
- KingdomAnimalia
- PhylumChordata
- ClassMammalia
- OrderSirenia
- FamilyTrichechidae
via GBIF · CC0
Wikidata facts
- Instance of
- taxon
- Parent taxon
- Trichechidae
- Image
- Endangered Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus) (7636816484).jpg
Show 2 more facts
- P105
- genus
Article
32 sectionsContents
- Etymology
- Taxonomy
- Description
- Evolution
- Behavior
- Locomotion
- Intelligence and learning
- Reproduction
- Communication
- Diet
- Feeding behavior
- Dentition
- Ecology
- Range and habitat
- West Indian
- Amazonian
- West African
- Predation
- Relation to humans
- Threats
- Ship strikes
- Red tide
- Starvation
- Additional threats
- Conservation
- Captivity
- Guyana
- Culture
- See also
- References
- Further reading
- External links
Manatees (, family Trichechidae, genus Trichechus) are large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows. There are three accepted living species of Trichechidae, representing three of the four living species in the order Sirenia: the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis), the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), and the West African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis). They measure up to long, weigh as much as , and have paddle-like tails.
Manatees are herbivores and eat over 60 different freshwater and saltwater plants. Manatees inhabit the shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers of the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the Amazon basin, and West Africa.