Cape Verde

What is the National Animal of Cape Verde?

National Animal of Cape Verde

Manatees – Cape Verde national animal

The national animal of Cape Verde is Manatees which is found in the waters around Cape Verde. The manatee is a sea cow. It is also known as the West Indian Manatee and the American Manatee.

The manatee is also known as sea cow or sea pig and belongs to the order Sirenia. The word “manatee” comes from the Spanish word “manatí” which means “breast” referring to its rounded torso shape.

This is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the world due to habitat loss and hunting.

The manatee is also known as sea cow because it feeds on grasses which grow underwater. It has a thick skin made up of loose folds which helps it to remain buoyant in water.

Scientific Classification

Class: Mammalia
Genus: Trichechus; Linnaeus‎ ‎1758‎
Family: Trichechidae
Kingdom: Animalia

Physical Description

The manatee is also known as sea cow, and it’s one of only four species of aquatic mammals that live in water throughout their lives. They are also known for their large size, as they can measure up to 4 meters (13 feet) long and weigh about 500 kilograms (1,100 pounds). The manatee has a flexible upper lip that is used to grasp various types of vegetation.

Habitats

The manatee has no teeth but instead it uses its lips to eat plants, leaves and fruits that grow under water. They live in shallow waters along coasts where there are plenty of food sources such as seagrass beds and mangroves forests.

Facts about Manatees

  • Manatees are found in different parts of the country Cape Verde.
  • They are marine mammals
  • They are large, rotund marine mammals that belong to the same order as elephants and hyraxes
  • They are herbivores that feed on aquatic plants such as eelgrass, water hyacinths and duckweed, although they can also eat some types of seaweed found offshore in deeper waters like red algae or green seaweed (Ulva).
  • Manatees can hold their breath for up to 20 minutes at a time while they feed on seagrass beds.
  • Manatees have no natural enemies other than humans (who hunt them for meat or accidentally run them over when boating).
  • They can grow up to 13 feet long and weigh as much as 3,500 pounds
  • Their tails are about one-third of their body length.
  • Manatees can travel up to 20 miles per hour when they’re moving quickly through shallow water or mud flats. They usually swim at about 5 miles per hour on average though!
  • The average life span for both species is 40 years but some individuals live longer than 50 years!

Why is Manatees the national animal of Cape Verde?

Manatees are the official animal of Cape Verde because they represent the country’s culture and history. They have played an important role in the lives of the people who live on this island nation, from providing food to serving as a means of transportation.

It also represents the peacefulness of Cape Verdeans and how they treat each other with love and compassion. The manatee is also a very peaceful animal that does not attack humans or other animals unless provoked. So, due to all these qualities Manatees become the native animal by the government of Cape Verde.