Questions about Sea Cows

  1. Why is it that sea cows are the only sea mammals that evolved marine herbivory while other mammals like cetaceans and pinnipeds did not?

  2. Why dont sea cows have any natural defenses against predators? Even big whales like humpbacks are able to fight back against orcas. How does evolving to not be able to fight back benefit them?

  3. Why is it that manatees are able to traverse through freshwater while dugongs can’t?

  4. Why don’t manatees have any natural predators besides humans? Surely a big predator like a great white shark or killer whale could prey upon manatees.

  1. Why is it that sea cows are the only sea mammals that evolved marine herbivory while other mammals like cetaceans and pinnipeds did not?

  2. Why dont sea cows have any natural defenses against predators? Even big whales like humpbacks are able to fight back against orcas. How does evolving to not be able to fight back benefit them?

  3. Why is it that manatees are able to traverse through freshwater while dugongs can’t?

  4. Why don’t manatees have any natural predators besides humans? Surely a big predator like a great white shark or killer whale could prey upon manatees.