sea cow
Gentle marine grazer
Sea cow is an informal name for large, slow-moving aquatic mammals that graze on underwater vegetation, including manatees and dugongs.
The name references their docile, herbivorous nature and bulky bodies.
The term also historically applied to the now-extinct Steller's sea cow, a massive relative of the dugong hunted to extinction in the 18th century.
We spotted a sea cow grazing in the shallow waters of the bay.
Saltwater flowering plant
- estuaryTidal mixing zone
- brackishMildly salty water
- shallow watersLow-depth aquatic zones
- coastalOf the shoreline
warm waters · freshwater · river · lagoon · mangrove · coral reef · bay · tropical
Feeding on pasture
- foragingSeeking wild food sources
- nursingMedical caretaking profession
- surfacingComing to the surface
- breathingPulmonary gas exchange
slow-moving · docile · gentle · placid · basking · resting · migrating · nuzzling
At risk of extinction
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
- poachingUnlawful wildlife capture
protected · vulnerable · recovery plan · sanctuary · rehabilitation · wildlife refuge · rescue · population decline
Foot-worn swim aids
- tailRear animal appendage
- whiskersFacial sensory hairs
- nostrilsBreathing holes in face
- blubberMarine mammal fat
rostrum · snout · thick skin · bristles · molars · small eyes · lungs · mammary glands
manatee
Large aquatic herbivorous mammal
- dugongHerbivorous marine mammal
seagrass
Saltwater flowering plant
- estuaryTidal mixing zone
- brackishMildly salty water
- shallow watersLow-depth aquatic zones
coastal · warm waters · freshwater · river · lagoon · mangrove · coral reef · bay · tropical · subtropical
grazing
Feeding on pasture
breathing · slow-moving · docile · gentle · placid · basking · resting · migrating · nuzzling · socializing
endangered
At risk of extinction
- threatenedExpressed intent to harm
- extinctionComplete vanishing of a species
- habitat lossElimination of living spaces
poaching · protected · vulnerable · recovery plan · sanctuary · rehabilitation · wildlife refuge · rescue · population decline · captive breeding
flippers
Foot-worn swim aids
blubber · rostrum · snout · thick skin · bristles · molars · small eyes · lungs · mammary glands
- sea cowsmanatee, dugong
- Animal Idiomsblind as a bat, brave as a lion, busy bee, copycat, dark horse
- marine mammalsdolphin, whales, whale, dolphins, porpoise
- animal nicknamesking of the jungle, man's best friend, king of beasts, sly fox, busy bee
- aquatic herbivoresmanatee, dugong, green sea turtle, grass carp, sea urchin
- Afrotheriaelephant, elephants, mammoth, mastodon, manatee
sea cowkiller whale
Apex ocean predator
orca · sea lion · dolphin · great white shark · leopard seal
sea cowgreat white shark
Largest predatory fish
killer whale · saltwater crocodile · piranha · bull shark · tiger shark