The African manatee is one of the least understood marine mammals in the world. West African manatees hardly ever come under attack by crocodiles or sharks – man is the main threat this aquatic mammal faces. It lives both in the Atlantic Ocean and in the waters of West African rivers flowing into it. Baseline research is critically needed to inform conservation actions for the species. African manatees do not have any hind limbs but they have large forelimbs, or flippers, which are used to paddle and to bring food … For Gabon manatees living in lagoons and rivers in the Central African rainforest, the model estimated their diet was 90% plants and 10% invertebrates (fish were not sampled from Gabon). The West African manatee (T. senegalensis), found in coastal areas and slow-moving rivers from Senegal to Angola, also ranges far inland in some rivers. Food Habits Trichechus senegalensis feeds primarily on aquatic vegetation, and adults may consume up to 8000kg per year. Nine African manatee researcher colleagues and I are in our third year of documenting all threats to African manatees and number captured or killed in five countries: Senegal, The Gambia, Nigeria, Cameroon, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Illegal hunting is the greatest reason for declines in manatee populations, and local peoples shoot the manatee for food or for their skins. Maxwell Williams. Form and function Florida manatees generally grow to around 3 metres (10 feet) but range in length from about 2.5 to 3.9 metres (8 to 13 feet) and weigh up to 1,655 kg (3,650 pounds). 10.13.16. Food Humans Used to Eat These Adorable (And Delicious) Endangered Animals You gonna finish that? phylogenetics and feeding ecology of the african manatee, trichechus senegalensis by lucy ward keith diagne a dissertation presented to the graduate school of the university of florida in partial fulfillment The African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis) is still a barely known aquatic mammal from the manatee family. Conservation of West African Manatee Threats. From the exterior, the African manatee looks very similar to the American manatee; however, the African manatee has characteristic white markings on its abdomen. They may also feed on overhanging bank growth, and populations living in estuarine environments are reported to feed exclusively on mangroves (Nowak 1991). 1287 First St., Sarasota; 941-366-8111; bijoucafe.net The downtown Sarasota restaurant with a menu inspired by owner/chef Jean-Pierre Knaggs' French and South African … People used to eat people. 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