Steller's sea cow [Hydrodamalis gigas]
Description
Steller's sea cow was a large, herbivorous marine mammal that lived in the Bering Sea area. Extinct since the 18th century, it was the largest member of the order Sirenia, which also includes manatees and dugongs, reaching lengths of 8 to 9 meters. It had a large, torpedo-shaped body and a head that was small in relation to its body. It was adapted for cold waters with a thick layer of fat for insulation. It fed on kelp and communicated through vocalizations similar to the ones used by contemporary Sirenians.
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Chordates
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Mammals
Mammalia
|
| Order |
Sirenians
Sirenia
|
| Family |
Dugongs
Dugongidae
|
| Genus |
Hydrodamalis
Hydrodamalis
|