In Senegal and Gabon, local and international scientists and conservationists are … [2][7] When the opportunity to mate with a female is at stake, males will fight with each other by pushing and shoving. [2][5][7] African manatees measure up to 4.5 m (15 ft) in length, and weigh about 360 kilograms (790 pounds). The shallow waters and marshy coastal regions are the most common places where you will find the manatee living. In fact, they won’t be able to survive if the waters are less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit. [1], Some behaviors of African manatees provoke humans to hunt them. The West African manatee weighs up to 500 kg (1,100 lbs), and is 3-4 meters long (10-13 feet) when fully grown. These herbivores munch on … Their diet consists mainly of aquatic vegetation from overhanging bank growth, mangroves or submerged aquatic plants. Despite eating in a slow and secretive manner, an Amazonian manatee each day is able to eat as much as 8% of its body weight. They were also found in the grassy estuaries of big rivers with mangroves and in protected coastal spots with less than 3 metres (10 ft) of water containing both mangroves and marine macrophytes. The African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis), also known as the West African manatee, is a species of manatee that inhabits much of the western region of Africa – from Senegal to Angola. [14], The African manatee is nocturnal. This range extends between Angola and Senegal. There are two major threats: loss of habitat and collisions with boats and ships. The only visible distinction between males and females is the genital openings. References The West African manatee is found in coastal areas and rivers of western Africa. African manatees can be found in much of the western region of Africa, from Senegal to Angola. African Manatees are found in coastal marine and estuarine habitats and in fresh water river systems along the west coast of Africa from the Senegal River south to the Kwanza River in Angola, including areas in Gambia, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Their diet consists mainly of aquatic vegetation from overhanging bank growth, mangroves or submerged aquatic plants. The African manatee Trichechus senegalensis is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species but without adequate information regarding African manatee populations, effective conservation actions are impossible, putting the species at even greater risk. [5][8][9][10] From the exterior, the African manatee looks very similar to the American manatee; however, the African manatee is different from the Amazonian manatee, which has characteristic white markings on its abdomen. Manatees are found in brackish waters to freshwater: in oceans, rivers, lakes, coastal estuaries, reservoirs, lagoons, and bays on the coast. So what has caused manatees to become endangered? When it is time to migrate due to a weather change, manatees will travel in larger groups to find warmer water and food. Anyone visiting such countries will notice manatee meat being sold on the streets and in marketplaces, but the lack of law enforcement protects the poachers from punishment. Although African manatees live in both coastal areas and isolated inland areas, genetic evidence suggests no significant differences between the two populations. Manatee Habitat. These fully aquatic creatures have large, rotund bodies, giving them the nickname “sea cow.” Read on to learn about the manatee. [9], The West African manatee is a descendant of trichechids found in coastal South America during the Pliocene Epoch. Due to the way their bodies are designed, the manatee doesn’t do well in cold waters. We create and distribute educational materials in French and English, and we continually strive to find new and creative ways to educate people about the importance of conserving the African manatee and its habitat. Here are a few surprising facts … Calves can swim on their own at birth. African Manatees are known to reside in lagoons, coastal territories and big rivers- from brackish all the way to freshwater. [13], Among the Serer people of Senegal, the Gambia and Mauritania, the manatee is regarded as sacred and highly respected, because in the Serer creation myth, it is viewed as the guardian of the secrets of the future. Residents of countries such as Mali and Chad depend on the oil of the African manatee to cure ailments such as ear infections, rheumatism, and skin conditions. Manatees are herbivores. During this phase, residents of six African countries (Mauritania, Senegal, The Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, and Sierra Leone) created a database of previously unknown information about the species (such as population, economic value, and habitat range) by conducting surveys in their countries. There are three areas in the world where Manatee live, the Caribbean, West Africa and the Amazon River. Ideal African manatee habitat Unlike the dugongs, manatees do not strictly use marine habitats. [12], According to people of western Africa, Maame Water (also spelled Mami Wata), a recurring character in many coastal legends, is a goddess of the sea and a symbol of wealth and beauty. Manatees are large marine mammals with easily distinguishable round, flattened tails. It rests in shallow waters during the day. Feeding and moving mostly during the night. Manatees belong to the genus Trichechus, under the order Sirenia which is under the kingdom Animalia. [3], The African manatee was officially declared a species under the Trichechus senegalensis taxon in 1795 by naturalist Johann Heinrich Friedrich Link. There are three species of manatee: the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis); the West Indian manatee, or the American manatee (Trichechus manatus); and the African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis). Conservation of the species is greatly hindered by the lack of basic knowledge about their distribution and habitat needs. African manatees are a species of manatees that are mainly found in the western region of Africa, from Angola to Senegal. Due to this mass lack of enforcement and minimal education, the African manatee population is being steadily depleted.[5]. This creates a deep bond between them. They have been seen around the coast of Africa, Nigeria, and down to the Republic of Congo. That range includes the coastlines of a total of 19 countries. Status and Trends (IUCN Status, Countries WhereCurrently Found, Taxonomy, Population Estimates and Status, Distribution, Threats and Reasonsfor Decline) 4. Feeding and moving mostly during the night. African manatees can be found in much of the western region of Africa, from Senegal to Angola. The African manatee's ancestors passed down advantageous migration and food traits. From north to south, the river systems that contain manatees include: the Senegal, Saloum, Gambia, Casamance, Cacheu, Mansôa, Geba, Buba, Tombali, Cacine, Kogon, Konkouré, Sierra Leone, Great Scarcies, Little Scarcies, Sherbro, Malem, Waanje, Sewa, Missunado, Cavalla, St. Paul, Morro, St. John, Bandama, Niouniourou, Sassandra, Comoé, Bia, Tano, Volta, Mono, Oueme, Niger, Mekrou, Benue, Cross, Katsena Ala, Bani, Akwayafe, Rio del Rey, Ngosso, Andokat, Mene, Munaya, Wouri, Sanaga, Faro, Chari, Bamaingui, Bahr-Kieta, Logoné, Mitémélé, Gabon, Ogooué, Lovanzi, Kouilou, Congo, Dande, Bengo, and Cuanza. Some are killed accidentally by fishing trawls and in nets which are intended for catching sharks. Specifically they are used to make walking sticks and toy spinning tops. [3] African manatees are typically extremely slow, moving between 4.8 km and 8.0 km (3 and 5 mi) per hour, although when scared by predators they can travel at speeds of about 32 km (20 mi) per hour. They eat over 60 different freshwater plants such as floating hyacinth, pickerel weed, alligator weed, water lettuce, and musk grass, and saltwater plants such as sea grasses, shoal grass, sea clover, and marine algae. They are more diverse than other manatees due to their ability to survive in salt water, although they do need access to fresh water for drinking purposes. This results in a slow rate of reproduction and that can be a significant factor when you are talking about efforts to increase their overall population. During the daytime, the African manatee dozes in shallow (1 to 2 meter deep) water. Males take a longer time to mature (about 9 to 10 years) and can rarely fertilize an egg at the age of 2 or 3 years. Despite eating in a slow and secretive manner, an Amazonian manatee each day is able to eat as much as 8% of its body weight. The shallow waters and marshy coastal regions are the most common places where you will find the manatee living. No subspecies of this taxon are known. Manatee Habitat and Distribution. The African Manatee, a vulnerable species, is facing several threats. Usually, an aggregation consists of up to six manatees. They are known to live only in freshwater areas. All three are listed as vulnerable to extinction. The Amaz… The Amazonian manatee species inhabit the Amazon River and the African manatee swims along the west coast and rivers of Africa. They are found in a range of coastal and estuarine habitats as well as in rivers and canals. Parenting and Diet. African manatees occur in a wide variety of habitats from rivers in the Sahel, to Central African rainforests, to coasts and around islands in the Atlantic Ocean. The West African manatee inhabits salt, brackish and freshwater in a number of habitats such as marine coastal areas, lagoons, estuaries and river tributaries. African manatees rarely inhabit waters with a temperature below 18°C (64°F). The African manatee does not have any hind limbs. In some regions the West African Manatee are reported to eat fish from net… Other articles where West African manatee is discussed: manatee: Evolution and paleontology: The West African manatee is also similar to the ancestral forms and may have dispersed from South America to Africa via transoceanic currents. The African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis), also known as the West African manatee, is a species of manatee that is mostly herbivorous.African manatees inhabit much of the western region of Africa – from Senegal to Angola. Key Facts & Information TAXONOMY. The West African manatee is found in coastal areas and rivers of western Africa. Status and Trends (IUCN Status, Countries WhereCurrently Found, Taxonomy, Population Estimates and Status, Distribution, Threats and Reasonsfor Decline) 4. Tidbits 3. Although not a great deal is known about T. senegalensis, it is hypothesized that it is genetically related to the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). 1. Ideal African manatee habitat Unlike the dugongs, manatees do not strictly use marine habitats. [5][15] They are also very social, spending a majority of their day bonding by touch, verbal communication, and smell. They have very few natural predators, two of which are sharks and crocodiles. [1] Thick congestion of boats in waterways may cause the manatees to have deadly run-ins with the vessels. Habitat and Movement The West African manatee can live in freshwater, saltwater, and brackish water, which is a mixture of the two. There are three manatee species worldwide – West Indian, West African, and Amazonian. The West Indian and West African manatees inhabit rivers, bays, canals, estuaries, and coastal areas rich in seagrass and other vegetation. When manatees become tangled in fishing nets, they can damage them. The most significant problems presently faced by Florida manatees is the loss of warm water habitat, and death and injury from boat strikes. The African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis), also known as the West African manatee or seacow, is a species of manatee; it is mostly herbivorous (eats plants). African manatees occur in a wide variety of habitats from rivers in the Sahel, to Central African rainforests, to coasts and around islands in the Atlantic Ocean. Although not a great deal is known about this species, it is hypothesized that the African manatee is very similar to the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus). The average adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds. The Amazon manatee is found only in freshwater river systems. (Mwanner via Wikimedia Commons) As herbivores, they can eat about ten percent of their body weight every day, and are chomping a good portion of the day. [1] There is little data to show if this has any negative long-term effects on the population as a whole. Because of the work done during this phase, the general public, young children, and experienced scientists alike are receiving better information than ever before as to how to protect the African manatees. The African manatee spends much of its time grazing on low hanging mangrove leaves and sea grass in this type of forest along the west coast, from Senegal in the north down to Angola in the south. Manatees in Florida feed on more than 60 species of plants including turtle grass, manatee grass, shoal grass, mangrove leaves, various algae, water hyacinth, acorns, and hydrilla. They are also found living around the Democratic Republic of Congo and Liberia. As herbivores, they can eat about ten percent of their body weight every day, and are chomping a good portion of the day. The African manatee spends much of its time grazing on low hanging mangrove leaves and sea grass in this type of forest along the west coast, from Senegal in the north down to Angola in the south. It lives in lagoons within equatorial rainforests, in rivers at the edge of the Sahara Desert, around coastal islands in the Atlantic Ocean, and in many other habitats in 21 countries along the Atlantic African coast, as well as over 2000 miles inland in rivers in Mali and Chad. The West African manatee inhabits salt, brackish and freshwater in a number of habitats such as marine coastal areas, lagoons, estuaries and river tributaries. Many manatees migrate there during the rainy season. African Manatee Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology. Where you will find them depends on the time of year, water temperature, and the specific species. For the past 14 years Keith-Diagne has been on a mission to protect the African manatee. Amazonian Manatee Distribution Map. Where you will find them depends on the time of year, water temperature, and the specific species. As part of a study completed in Côte d'Ivoire to assess where the majority of African manatees favor living, a sample of African manatees was radio-tagged and tracked. The African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis), also known as the West African manatee, is a species of manatee that is mostly herbivorous.African manatees inhabit much of the western region of Africa – from Senegal to Angola. According to Dr. Mamaa Entsua-Mensah, who performs research for CSIR, when female African manatees surface for air, they resemble goddesses. Although not much is known about this species, it is believed that it resembles the West Indian manatee. Habitat and Range. In countries such as Sierra Leone, African manatees migrate upstream when flooding occurs in June and July. The West African manatee (T. senegalensis), found in coastal areas and slow-moving rivers from Senegal to Angola, also ranges far inland in some rivers. [1], Manatees are herbivores; however, they also eat clams, mollusks, and fish found in nets. They are known to be living in small rivers, the Amazon Basin, West Africa, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean Sea. Due to the large-scale success of Phase I, a Phase II is to be enacted by Wetlands International. African Manatee Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology. At several hydroelectric dams including the Kanji dam on the Niger River and the Akosombo dam on the Volta River manatees have been caught and killed in the turbines and intake valves. The African manatee lives along the coast and in the rivers of western Africa. Maame Water also flips over canoes and entices their occupants to visit her kingdom. Conservation Problems The West African manatee is the least studied large mammal in Africa and faces serious threats from hunting, dams, and other human impacts throughout its range. West Indian and West African manatees are able to live in both sea water and fresh water. In some countries, such as Nigeria and Cameroon, African manatees are sold to zoos, aquariums, online as pets, and they are sometimes shipped internationally. Fun Facts for Kids. They are often referred to as the "forgotten" sirenian. Calves are darker in color when they are very young. The African manatee is highly elusive, lives in very remote locations and is subject to intense hunting pressure and habitat alteration throughout its range. [2] It is the manatee species to be found in the Old World. Although the African manatee's social organization is not well understood, research shows the most common and tightly knit bonds are between a mother and her calf. 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