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Got Its Name |
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How the manatee got its common name is uncertain. The term evidently has its roots in the Carib Indian or Taino word "manati," meaning "woman's breast." Perhaps an unlikely term to apply to a marine animal, but the manatee is a mammal and its mammae do resemble those of a human. When the Spanish and Portuguese invaded islands controlled by the Caribs, they also adopted the word "manati" but apparently thought it meant "with hands." Not an unnatural interpretation since a manatee's front flippers are important for feeding, and (along with the tail) instrumental for steering while swimming. They also nicknamed it "sea cow" because of its preference for plants. How Long Have Manatees Been Around? Why Manatees Became Endangered
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