Essay On Manatees

Have you ever wanted to hug a manatee? Well, you can’t. In the state of Florida, it is illegal “molest, harass, or disturb a manatee” which includes hugging. Hugging a manatee can induce severe stress. Manatees have extreme sensitivities, and because of them, a hug can cause a syndrome which, in severe cases, leads to death. Because manatees were, up until recently, an endangered species, laws protecting them are strict.

There are three different types of manatees in the world: the West Indian manatee, the Amazonian manatee, and the African manatee. The West Indian manatee lives in the ocean off the east coast of North America and part of South America, from Brazil to Florida. African Manatees live in the rivers and off the coast Africa and Amazonian manatees live in the Amazon River, as is given away by the names. Manatees, or sea cows, naturally live in the sea; however, manatees can live in freshwater or saltwater.

One of the derived characteristics of a manatee is that it has evolved to have a body that helps in to survive in an aquatic environment.

Manatees, with the Order Sirenia, descended from a marine mammal called Tethytheria which had two hind limbs. Instead, manatees evolved to have a paddle-shaped tail which aids in swimming, by making it easier for manatees to push through the water. Manatees continue to have two front limbs; however, they are flippers that they use for steering as well as putting food in their mouths.

Another of the derived characteristics of a manatee is that, along with the rest of mammals, has evolved to have mammary glands. So far, scientists do not know from where mammary glands evolved, but there are many theories, including the one that mammary glands evolved from a type of sweat glands. Manatees, being mammals, use their mammary glands to feed their young. Manatee calves drink the milk from their mothers until they are older and eat types of

plants.
Another derived characteristic of a manatee is that its snout is not strongly downturned like that of the dugong. The dugong, like the manatee, is in the order Sirenia. However, the changes in snout shape separate the manatee into the Family Trichechidae. The manatee’s snout allows them to be able to feed at any level, rather than just feeding at the bottom of the ocean like the dugong. Dugongs also have different teeth than manatees. Manatees have evolved to have renewable teeth, while dugongs do not have renewable teeth.
Throughout millions of years, manatees evolved into the creatures that are known today. It evolved from a mammal with four limbs, to having two limbs used for swimming. It’s snout has evolved to not be downturned and, throughout the years of evolving, developed mammary glands as well. Once a four-legged land mammal, the manatee has vastly changed into the sea creature it is now.