Sea Cows, Manatee and Sirenia Evolution
by Sharon Mooney and Edward T. Babinski


  • Origin of Sirenians
    Earliest Sirenians, Prorastomus and Protosiren. Timeline of Sirenian Evolution and Extinctions. Images of the four extant manatee and dugong, and the extinct Steller's Seacow.
  • Sirenian Evolution: Elephant to Sea Cow
    Astonishing photographic evidence of similarities between modern sea cows and elephants. Including photographs with celebrity LeVar Burton from Reading Rainbow.
  • Sea Cows, Manatee and Sirenia Evolution
    Up close and personal with LeVar Burton and Manatees video. Photographs of Toenails on Manatee, and discussing diet, eating habits and lifestyle of Sea Cows.
  • Images of Sirenians
    All images illustrated by Sharon Mooney, available for download and public distribution for educational purposes.

    Sam the Sea Cow about an injured Sea Cow rescued by marine biologists.
    Celebrity host, LeVar Burton examines a Sea Cow close up revealing it's traits in common with elephants.
    Sam The Sea Cow, WMV / Flash Format / Duration - 3:06

    © 1992, Reading Rainbow
    RR is a production and registered trademark of
    GPN/Nebraska Educational Telecommunications and WNED-TV, Buffalo NY

    Sirenian Evolution: Elephant to Sea Cow (Manatees)
    Astonishing photographic evidence of similarities between modern sea cows and elephants. Including photographs with celebrity LeVar Burton from Reading Rainbow.

    manatee
    Manatee have a large beaver-like tail used to propel their 1000-2000 lb bodies.
    manatee
    Manatee are "gentle giants", whose greatest natural enemy, is man. Curious manatee are often injured by boat propellers. LeVar Burton speaks with the professionals who work with injured sea cows, and gets up-close with the manatee. Like all other mammals, the sea cow has hair covering its body.
    manatee
    Manatee have finger-like appendages that "grab food", similar to how the elephant uses its trunk.
    manatee
    manatee
    manatee
    Manatee have tiny valves protecting their nostrils, as they graze on vegetation under water. Sea Cows return to the surface every 3 to 5 minutes to breathe.

    And.. like elephants, Manatee have toe nails on their flippers.

    Some of them have even lost their toe nails, and developed smooth paddles like Cetaceans.

    "The smallest member of the family Trichechidae, the Amazonian manatee has smooth skin and no nails on its flippers and feeds on freshwater vegetation."

    Manatee Toe Nails

    Manatee Toe Nails

    Manatee Toe Nails

    Manatee Toe Nails

    Manatee Toe Nails

    Manatee Toe Nails

    Manatee Toe Nails

    Ring List
    Ring ListNextHomeContact

    MORE LINKS ON SIRENIAN EVOLUTION

    Manatee Brain and Evolution of Manatees

    Univ. Florida Manatee Research Group

    Save the Manatee Club

    Sea World Education Department

    US Fish and Wildlife Search

    Vertebrate Animal Species Search

    Endangered Species Program

    Call of the Siren (An extensive website for sirenian researchers)

    Steller Seacow Page
    Steller's Seacow, natural history and skeletal elements in museums

    Rothauscher's Dugong Page
    Dugong, Natural history, distribution, etc.

    • The Evolution of Whales

    The Fighting Natans

    RECOMMENDED READING

    The Emergence of Whales, J.G.M. Thewissen, PhD
    The Emergence of Whales    , Evolutionary Patterns in the Origin of Cetacea (Advances in Vertebrate Paleobiology) (Hardcover)
    by J. G. M. Thewissen (Editor)

    Review from Journal of Mammology, August 6, 2002
    Reviewer: Jasmine Benzvi (New York, NY)
    'Up to now, a 'state of the art' summary of research on whale origins has not been available. This book admirably fills that void and should be added to the library of any serious mammologist or paleomammalogist.'
    - by Annalisa Berta

    Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals
    Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals     (Hardcover)
    by William F. Perrin (Editor), Bernd Wursig (Editor), J.G.M. Thewissen (Editor)

  • "This impressive reference would make an excellent addition to any library..."-ENCYCLOPEDIA OF DINOSAURS AND VOLCANOES (February 2003)
  • "Very highly recommended for students, professionals, researchers and lay people with an interest in marine mammals." WILDLIFE ACTIVIST (Fall 2002)
  • "...an excellent resource for beginning research. ...This encyclopedia is very highly recommended for all academic and larger public libraries." Teresa Bowden, Villanova University Falvey Memorial Library for E-STREAMS (September 2002)
  • "...students beginning postgraduate study on marine mammals and researchers and academics working on marine mammals will find it indispensable."

    • RELATED ARTICLES
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    Evolutionary history of Bovidae. Contains links to photos and further information on what's currently known about the Cow origins. Includes information on the evolution of Bats.

    Snake Evolution - Photos of Vestigial Hind Limbs on Snakes
    See photographs of the spurs (vestigial limbs) which exist on modern day snakes. Including some information on the evolution of venom, and live birth vs. egg-laying snakes. Includes info on legless amphibians.

    Cetacean Evolution - Whale Evolution - Whale Anatomy
    List of Articles on Cetacean - Whale Evolution

    Visual Evidence for Evolution
    Different resources on the web, with photographic proof for evolution.

    Evolution in Bacteria
    Documented evidence of evolution in bacteria and other lower life forms.

    Python pelvic girdle and snake evolution
    Photographs of the Pelvic Bones from a Python.



    Article last updated October 22, 2005
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