Sea cows, also known as sirenians, are a group of large, herbivorous marine mammals that spend their lives in warm coastal waters. They are characterized by their streamlined bodies, paddle-like flippers, and prominent upper lips that they use to graze on seagrass.
There are four living species of sea cows:
- West African manatee
- Amazonian manatee
- West Indian manatee
- Dugong
Sea cows are found in shallow waters near coasts and estuaries in tropical and subtropical regions of the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans. They prefer warm, calm waters with an abundance of seagrass, which makes up the majority of their diet.
Habitat:
>Manatees:
- West African Manatee: This species is native to the coastal waters of West Africa, from Senegal to Angola.
- Amazonian Manatee: Found in the Amazon River basin of South America, including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador.
- West Indian Manatee: This species is distributed in coastal waters from Florida, the Gulf of Mexico, and Caribbean Sea to South America
>Dugongs:
- The dugong is found in shallow waters of the Indo-Pacific region, including the Red Sea, the Persian Gulf, and coastal waters of East Africa, South Asia, and Southeast Asia.
Conservation Status:
Sea cows are facing a number of threats, including habitat destruction, hunting, and entanglement in fishing gear. As a result, all four species of sea cows are considered endangered or vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).