Sirenians live in tropical, subtropical, and temperate, or mild, regions throughout the world. The exception to this is Steller's sea cow, now extinct, which lived only in the frigid waters of the northwestern Pacific Ocean.
Sirenians are semi-social mammals with the primary unit a female and her calf. Dugongs feed in herds of tens or hundreds of individuals. They have been recorded as traveling hundreds of miles (kilometers) in a matter of days, an impressive feat given that they must surface for air every few minutes. Dugongs have poor eyesight but an acute sense of hearing. Manatees also travel long distances in sh…
Sirenians have been hunted by humans for food, hides, and bone, a fact that has endangered a number of their species. Steller's sea cow lived for just a few decades before hunting caused its extinction. Manatees and dugongs help balance the marine ecosystem by recycling nutrients in sea grass beds and keeping the plants in a continual state of growth. Without them, the biodiversity, variety…
Several species of manatees are threatened, according to the World Conservation Union (IUCN). The dugong is listed as Vulnerable, facing a high risk of extinction. It is also listed as Endangered under the U.S. Endangered Species Act. Sirenia are in danger due to habitat destruction brought on by human activities such as recreational boating and fishing. Today great conservation efforts are being …
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