New records of the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) from the Bahama Islands
1978; Elsevier BV; Volume: 14; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/0006-3207(78)90045-9
ISSN1873-2917
AutoresDaniel K. Odell, John E. Reynolds, Gregg Waugh,
Tópico(s)Ichthyology and Marine Biology
ResumoThe first positive sighting of a manatee (Trichechus manatus) in the Bahama Islands in more than 70 years was made on 12 September 1975 at West End, Grand Bahama Island. The only previous record was from the Bimini Island group in 1904. A dead manatee was found near Freeport, Grand Bahama Island, in November 1975. The skull, which was preserved, had a condylobasal length of 36·8 cm. Speculation concerning the origin of these animals is offered: a local population; immigration from Florida or other islands in the Bahamas; and importation by man. The manatee population in the Bahamas might be limited by freshwater sources. An aerial survey should be conducted to assess the manatee population, if any, in the Bahama Islands.
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