Sea Cows Dugongs and Manatees: Sirenia

Manatees and dugongs live in shallow, warm coastal waters that contain plentiful vegetation. Some manatees exist in estuaries (EST-yoo-air-eez), mouth of a river where fresh water mixes with salt water, others occupy both sides of the Atlantic Ocean. The Amazonian manatee lives only in freshwater. The dugong lives in the Indian Ocean, Red Sea, Persian Gulf, and the west coast of India, in strictly saltwater habitats. The sea cow preferred an exceedingly cold environment, and history indicates it liked a mix of salt water and freshwater.