As Newt Scamander, the famed Magizoologist and the author of 'Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them' once said, "The oldest recorded merpeople were known as Sirens (Greece), and it is in warmer waters that we find the beautiful mermaids more frequently depicted in Muggle literature and painting. The Selkies of Scotland and the Merrows of Ireland are less beautiful, but they share that love of music, which is common to all merpeople."
Not sure about you all, but I have definitely grown up wondering whether merpeople (mermaids and mermen) do exist. Well, that's a whole different topic in itself, but let me introduce you to the creature that has its unique place in the legends. Legend has it that after spending months or years away from their wives and partners, in the sea, the sailors begin to see their woman in these adorable creatures. However, this isn't mere speculation. The great Christopher Columbus has mentioned them in his journal.
Now imagine spending most of your time either drifting in cold water and lazing around or filling your tummy with food. Amazing right? This is the kind of life Manatees have. Owing to their languid pace, these creatures are also known as sea cows. Manatees are herbivorous sea mammals that constitute 3 species of the genus Trichechus (derived from 'hair' in Latin), which are primarily distinguished by where they live – the West Indian or North American manatee (Trichechus manatus), the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) and the African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis).
Manatees are voracious grazers who love to eat anything green that they find in the sea – be it grasses, weeds or even algae. Their feeding capacity is also proportionately high - so much so that they eat one-tenth of their massive body weight. It is also interesting to note that manatees are pretty decent swimmers despite their massive bulk, with the newborn calves capable of swimming within an hour from their birth. Manatees are born underwater, and the calves need a slight push to the surface from their mothers to take their first breath. Although based on their characteristics, one would feel like they are related to dolphins or whales, the actual closest evolutionary relative of the manatees are elephants.
Being slow-moving animals that frequently visit coastal water, they are quite vulnerable to hunters seeking their hide, oil (fat) and bones. Over the last century, hunting has been the primary reason for their decline. There have been several laws and resolutions to protect these creatures. Yet, they face a new threat today. These gentle beasts are often accidentally hit by motorboats in crowded waters. This results in the three species declining in numbers, with the IUCN listing them as 'Vulnerable'.
Note to the readers:
Sirens, Selkies and Merrows are indeed mentioned in their respective folklores. Do give it a read in Wiki if interested.
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Reposted from "The Monthly Nature Review" (Nature Club) - Abhivahya Monthly Edition, September 2020, IISER Kolkata Campus Radio