Consider the following statements regarding Manatees:1. They are large...
A record number of manatees converged at a Florida state park recently.
About Manatees:
- Manatees are large aquatic mammals, and sometimes they're referred to as “sea cows.”
- They belong toa group of animals called Sirenia. This group also contains dugongs.
- Dugongs and manatees are very similar in appearance and behavior, but there is one key difference: their tails.
- Manatees have paddle-shaped tails, and dugongs have fluked tails, giving it a whale-like appearance.
- Habitat: Manatees inhabit shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers.
- There are three species, or types, of manatee.
- The Amazonian manatee lives in the Amazon River and in fresh water in South America. This species is only found in freshwater.
- The African manatee lives in tropical West Africa.
- The Caribbean manatee is found in Florida and the West Indies.
- Features:
- Adult manatees may reach a length of 15 feet (4.6 meters) and a weight of 1,660 kilograms.
- Females tend to be larger and heavier than males.
- Dull gray, blackish, or brown in colour, all three manatee species have stout tapered bodies ending in a flat rounded tail used for forward propulsion.
- The forelimbs are modified into flippers; there are no hind limbs.
- In order to breathe, they must swim to the water’s surface for air.
- Lifespan: 50 to 60 years
- They are herbivores. They spend up to eight hours a day grazing and can consume 4 to 9 percent of their body weight in aquatic vegetation daily.
- Apart from mothers and their young, or males following a receptive female, manatees are generally solitary animals.
- Conservation Status: All three manatee species are listed as ‘Vulnerable’ by the IUCN’s Red List of Threatened Species.
Hence only statement 1 is correct.
Consider the following statements regarding Manatees:1. They are large...
1. Statement Analysis:
The first statement is correct. Manatees are indeed large herbivorous aquatic mammals that primarily feed on aquatic plants such as seagrasses and algae. They are known for their gentle and slow-moving nature, making them popular among wildlife enthusiasts.
2. Statement Analysis:
The second statement is incorrect. Not all species of manatees inhabit freshwater ecosystems. In fact, there are three species of manatees: the West Indian manatee, the West African manatee, and the Amazonian manatee. While the West Indian manatee can be found in both freshwater and saltwater environments, the West African manatee and the Amazonian manatee are primarily found in freshwater rivers, estuaries, and coastal marine waters.
Therefore, the correct answer is option 'A' - 1 only. Manatees are large herbivorous aquatic mammals, but not all species of manatees inhabit freshwater ecosystems.
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