The Amazonian Manatee

The Amazonian manatee is found in the lagoons and rivers that flow off of the Amazon River though such countries as Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Guyana, and Ecuador. Find these areas on your map and color them red. Unlike the other species of manatee, the Amazonian manatee lives only in fresh water and does not have nails on its flippers, The flippers are very flexible and are used for maneuvering in the eater. The Amazonian manatee migrates with the rise and fall of the water level of the river, In the dry season (usually November) Amazonian manatees migrate from the rivers to the deeper lakes. Food is hard to find in the lakes do the manatees often fast (go without food) for long periods of time. Long dry seasons are dangerous to Amazonian manatees as they often starve or become exposed to hunters when the lakes dry out. Because many of the Amazonian rain forests are being cut down, longer dry seasons are predicted for the future. This could be a serious problem for the Amazonian manatee.