Manatee

A large, herbivorous aquatic mammal in the order Sirenia, native to shallow coastal waters and rivers of the Atlantic basin. Its paddle-shaped tail and flexible upper lip help it move and feed on aquatic plants.

Sirenia: The mammalian order containing manatees and dugongs, adapted to life in water and sustained by aquatic vegetation. Manatees are one of the two living branches of this order.
Manatee feeding: The grazing behavior by which manatees crop aquatic and shoreline plants with a flexible upper lip. Lip movements let manatees grasp and manipulate vegetation underwater.
Florida manatee: A population of West Indian manatees inhabiting Florida’s waters and nearby regions. It is the best-studied manatee population and a focus of intensive protection.
West Indian manatee: A manatee species found in the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and adjacent Atlantic waters. This species includes the Florida population and occupies much of the manatee’s Atlantic range.
Dugong: A marine sirenian with a fluked tail, found in coastal waters of the Indo-Pacific. Its fluked tail and marine range distinguish it from manatees.
Manatee thermoregulation: The physiological processes by which manatees maintain body temperature in changing water conditions. Their limited insulation makes warm-water refuges essential during cold periods.
Manatee conservation: Efforts to reduce threats and maintain viable populations of manatees and their habitats. Conservation measures address boat strikes, cold stress, habitat loss, and food availability.
Amazonian manatee: A freshwater manatee species native to the Amazon basin. It shows that manatees also inhabit tropical rivers far from the coast.
Aquatic locomotion: Movement through water by swimming, paddling, or other forms of propulsion. Manatees propel themselves with a broad tail and steer with their forelimbs.
Mammalian diving reflex: A suite of physiological responses that conserve oxygen during submersion in mammals. It helps explain how manatees manage oxygen while feeding underwater.

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