Observations and relocation of a West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) off Bimini, The Bahamas
Aquatic Mammals
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Abstract
West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) are listed as vulnerable (IUCN Red List, 7 March 2009; Deutsch et al., 2008), with the subspecies Trichechus manatus latirostris and T. m. manatus (Florida and Antillean, respectively) considered endangered (IUCN Red List, 21 January 2011; Deutsch, 2008; Self-Sullivan & Mignucci-Giannoni, 2008). Manatees are not native to The Bahamas; however, sightings have been recorded periodically since 1904, with an increase in sightings documented in the 1990s (Lefebvre et al., 2001). In the area of Bimini, The Bahamas, the first recorded manatee sighting was in 1904 of a single individual that was apparently killed (Allen, 1942). The second was not until 1996, which was poorly documented. The small adult remained for approximately 6 wks before disappearing (Lefebvre et al., 2001). In 1998, a third sighting was reported off Bimini of a single individual. Although the animal was seen for several weeks and was relatively habituated to human presence (Al Sweeting, Jr., pers. comm., 28 November 2008), no data were collected on this individual nor any photographs suitable for identification purposes.
Suggested Citation
Melillo-Sweeting, K., Reid, J.P., Gittens, L., Adimey, N., and Dillet, J.Z., 2011, Observations and relocation of a West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) off Bimini, The Bahamas: Aquatic Mammals, v. 37, no. 4, p. 502-505, https://doi.org/10.1578/AM.37.4.2011.502.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Observations and relocation of a West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) off Bimini, The Bahamas |
| Series title | Aquatic Mammals |
| DOI | 10.1578/AM.37.4.2011.502 |
| Volume | 37 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Publication Date | December 01, 2011 |
| Year Published | 2011 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Document & Publication Services at Western Illinois University |
| Publisher location | Macomb, IL |
| Contributing office(s) | Southeast Ecological Science Center |
| Description | 4 p. |
| Larger Work Type | Article |
| Larger Work Subtype | Journal Article |
| Larger Work Title | Aquatic Mammals |
| First page | 502 |
| Last page | 505 |
| Country | The Bahamas |
| Other Geospatial | Bimini |