West Indian Manatee Skull Replica

Description

West Indian manatee skull replica measures 16.1 x 10.5 x 9.5 inches. The Trichechus manatus is a museum-quality polyurethane resin cast from California Academy of Sciences specimen. 2-part skull (separate cranium and mandible). 1:1 scale. Made in USA.

The West Indian manatee, also known as Inka, is native to warm coastal areas of the Caribbean. They also live along the Eastern United States down to northern Brazil.

These large, gentle mammals are herbivores that feed on a variety of underwater plants. They spend many hours grazing on seagrass beds and marine vegetation. They use highly sensitive whiskers to navigate and pull food into their mouths.

This species is the largest living member of the order Sirenia. Their group also includes the dugong and the extinct Steller’s sea cow. They have large, seal-shaped bodies with paired flippers and a round tail.

In the 1970s, the United States listed the species as endangered. Significant conservation efforts followed to product them from boat collisions. The cover changed their classification to threatened in 2017.

Scientific Classification

• Kingdom: Animalia
• Phylum: Chordata
• Class: Mammalia
• Order: Sirenia
• Family: Trichechidae
• Genus: Trichechus
• Species: T. manatus
• Binomial name: Trichechus manatus
• Conservation status: Endangered

It is Inka’s birthday and she has invited Doug, the dugong male skull replica over for cake by the ocean. He is so excited he secretly invited Steve, the Steller’s sea cow skull replica, to join in on the fun.

Of course, Steve and Wally the Walrus male skull replica had a fun cake fight at the shore. Everyone loves cake, serve some up to your guests by showing them these beautiful marine replicas.