Subject: Manatees Related to Whales?
Nancy Sadusky (education@savethemanatee.org)
Wed, 30 Sep 1998 22:02:59 +0000
Hi, thanks so much for your question:
Are manatees related to whales?
Answer:
Although manatees have a body shape similar to that of a sea lion or
walrus, they are not related. Nor are they related to whales or
dolphins, which belong to the scientific order Cetacea.
Surprisingly, the manatee's closest relatives are the elephant and a
small, rodent-like animal known as the hyrax. Manatees belong to the
scientific order Sirenia, which comes from the word "siren." Rumor
has it that sailors once thought manatees were mermaids. Their
association with the sea nymphs of ancient mythology is also evident
in the graceful way they move through the water.
Other sirenians include the West African manatee, the
Amazonia manatee, the dugong, and Steller's sea cow, which was hunted
to extinction in 1768.
You can find out more information about sirenians of the world by
visiting our web page at:
http://www.savethemanatee.org/sirenian.htm
Sincerely,
Nancy Sadusky
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Communications Director
Save the Manatee Club
500 N. Maitland Ave.
Maitland, FL 32751
(407) 539-0990
e-mail: nsadusky@savethemanatee.org
http://www.savethemanatee.org
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