The Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) is the smallest of the manatees and lives, as its name suggests in the Amazon river and its river branches and the Amazon River Basin, they never go out into the sea, or salt water. It is one of three species of manatee, 'lamantine' or 'sea cows', they are part of the order of Sirenia. They are both diurnal as nocturnal, feeding on aquatic vegetation, as much as 8 percent of their body weight. Amazonian manatee numbers have greatly declined because of hunting and habitat degradation. Interesting fact: Like all manatees, the Amazonian manatee molar teeth grow constantly, and old teeth are replaced with new ones, which enter at the back of the jaw.
Other manatees are: West Indian manatee, African manatee
Image created by Sharon Mooney, for Sirenian Evolution and based on Manatees of the World, image may be redistributed on condition original credits remain intact. Licensed under Attribution ShareAlike 2.5
The Amazonian manatee, south american manatee is listed as Vulnerable (VU), considered to be facing a high risk of extinction in the wild, on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
Namings for the Amazonian manatee
A young / baby of a Amazonian manatee is called a 'calf'. The females are called 'cow' and males 'bull'. A Amazonian manatee group is called a 'herd'.Amazonian manatee habitats
Coastal Brackish / Saline Lagoons / Marine Lakes, Coastal Freshwater Lakes, Estuaries, Marine Coastal / Supratidal, Marine Neritic, Permanent Freshwater Lakes (over 8ha), Permanent Rivers / Streams / Creeks (includes waterfalls), Seasonal / Intermittent / Irregular Rivers / Streams / Creeks and Wetlands (inland)Some facts about the
Amazonian manatee
Adult weight : 480 kg (1056 lbs)
Maximum longevity : 40 years
Female maturity :1096 days
Male maturity : 1096 days
Gestation : 328 days
Weaning : 548 days
Litter size : 1
Litters per year : 1
Weight at birth : 12.5 kg (27.5 lbs)
Weight at weaning : 67.5 kg (148.5 lbs)
Basal metabolic rate : 55 W
Body mass : 167.594 kg (368.7068 lbs)
