West African Manatee by BigCatKeeper

West African Manatee Author: BigCatKeeper

http://www.zoo-tek.com/forums/index.php?download=167

Manatees are large, cylindrically shaped mammals, with forelimbs modified in to flippers, no free hind limbs, and the rear of the body in the form of a flat, rounded, horizontal paddle. The flexible flippers are used for aiding motion over the bottom, scratching, touching and even embracing other manatees, and moving food into and cleaning the mouth. Its upper lip is modified into a large bristly surface, which is deeply divided. It can move each side of the lips independently while feeding. The general coloration is grey.

The West African manatee weighs less than 500 kg (1100 lb). Adults are generally 3 - 4 m (10 - 13') long. It inhabits coastal areas, estuarine lagoons, large rivers that range from brackish to fresh water, freshwater lakes and the extreme upper reaches of rivers above cataracts. This manatee species is dependent on emergent or overhanging, rather than submerged, vegetation. Populations in some rivers depend heavily on overhanging bank growth, and those in estuarine areas feed exclusively on mangroves. Seasonal movements in response to changes in water level affecting availability of food and/or water salinity have been reported in several areas. An individual manatee may travel 30 - 40 km/day (19 - 25 mi/day) through lagoons and rivers.

The West African manatee occurs from Senegal to Angola; its numbers continue to decrease. The population decline has been attributed largely to hunting and incidental capture in fishing nets. Despite legal protection, the manatee is still hunted throughout its range. It is sometimes also killed in turbines or control gates of dams. The coastal wetlands that are a major habitat for the manatee have already been heavily damaged and are further severely threatened. Woodcutting is resulting in the extermination of mangrove stands in some areas. Mangrove clearance, as well as erosion due to forest clearance upstream, are resulting in increased sedimentation that silts up lagoons and estuaries.

West African Manatee created by Bigcatkeeper

Many thanks to Professorpaul