Family: Dugongidae (dugongs) and Trichechidae (manatees)
Species: Dugong shown here is Metaxytherium floridanum. West Indies manatee is Trichechus
Dugongs have a tail like a dolphin while manatee tails are rounded.
West Indies Manatee
Dugong ribs fragments. Dugongs became extinct about
2-1/2 million years ago in
Florida waters, but can still be found in Asia. Manatees
came onto the Florida scene about the time dugongs were dying out.
