Manatee

Amazonas Manatee - Manati | Manatees or manatees seem to have sprung from the fantasies of ancient seafarers and are considered to be the origin of mermaids.

The Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) or manatee is the smallest of the manatee species and the only one that lives exclusively in fresh water. The body is barrel-shaped and colored in various shades of grey. The belly of the Amazonian manatee has white spots. The tail fin is round, the front fins are longer than those of other manatee species and there are no nails. The whole body is covered with fine hairs and there are thicker tactile hairs around the mouth.

The distribution area covers the Amazon and Orinoco river systems. The animals prefer to live in black water lakes and lagoons. Amazon manatees are often found in small groups of 4 - 8 animals. However, when the rivers have less water during the dry season, large groups of manatees can congregate in the deeper lakes and river areas.

Manatees are pure herbivores, they graze for up to 8 hours a day and can eat up to 15 percent of their own body weight in aquatic plants.

After a gestation period of 12 - 14 months, 1 young is born. As with all manatee species and also with their closest relatives, the elephants, the teats are located between the forelimbs.

Dangers

The greatest dangers for Amazonian manatees lie in industrialization, the extraction of raw materials and the associated changes to their habitats, as well as the increasing pollution of the waters. Increasing shipping traffic also increases the risk of collision with watercraft.

YAQU PACHA is currently working with PROYECTO SOTALIA on a species conservation project for manatees in Venezuela.