rhamphotheca: The Discovery of Multispecies Communities of Seacows by Jorge Velez-Juarbe Sirenians, or seacows, are a group of marine mammals that include manatees and dugongs. In the modern world, only one species of seacow is found in each world region, however, the fossil record tells a different story. According to the fossil record of these marine mammals, which dates back 50 million years ago, it was more common to find three, maybe more, different species living together at one time. This oddity hinted that seacows’ environment and food sources were different than what we see today. Inspired by this finding, a group of paleontologists including Drs. Daryl Domning, Nick Pyenson and myself conducted research on extinct seacows from different ocean basins, in different geological times, to learn more about the paleoecology and evolution of these marine mammals. Presently, there are only four species of living seacows. These include three species of manatees, which are found in different coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and one species of dugong, found around coasts of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. All seacows are consumers of marine vegetation, and they generally concentrate on seagrasses.  The geographic distribution of living seacows shows no overlap.  However, the fossil record of seacows shows several instances where different species co-existed… (read more: Smithsonian Ocean Portal)     (image: Carl Buell)
Pop-upView Separately

rhamphotheca:

The Discovery of Multispecies Communities of Seacows

by Jorge Velez-Juarbe

Sirenians, or seacows, are a group of marine mammals that include manatees and dugongs. In the modern world, only one species of seacow is found in each world region, however, the fossil record tells a different story. According to the fossil record of these marine mammals, which dates back 50 million years ago, it was more common to find three, maybe more, different species living together at one time. This oddity hinted that seacows’ environment and food sources were different than what we see today.

Inspired by this finding, a group of paleontologists including Drs. Daryl Domning, Nick Pyenson and myself conducted research on extinct seacows from different ocean basins, in different geological times, to learn more about the paleoecology and evolution of these marine mammals.

Presently, there are only four species of living seacows. These include three species of manatees, which are found in different coastal waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and one species of dugong, found around coasts of the Indo-Pacific Ocean. All seacows are consumers of marine vegetation, and they generally concentrate on seagrasses.  The geographic distribution of living seacows shows no overlap.  However, the fossil record of seacows shows several instances where different species co-existed…

(read more: Smithsonian Ocean Portal)     (image: Carl Buell)

138 Notes/ Hide

  1. angeico reblogged this from scientificillustration
  2. cozylove reblogged this from scientificillustration
  3. greenotion reblogged this from scientificillustration and added:
    Hearing about the seagrass ecosystem during lecture makes me reflect upon these seacows…
  4. awhaleofablog reblogged this from rhamphotheca
  5. googleberry reblogged this from scientificillustration
  6. vivelavapeur reblogged this from scientificillustration
  7. theadventurenever-ends reblogged this from corgiparty
  8. corgiparty reblogged this from logic-over-instinct and added:
    (via imgTumble)
  9. kingunderthemountain reblogged this from scientificillustration
  10. tapanda reblogged this from rhamphotheca
  11. hookedonebonics reblogged this from rhamphotheca
  12. theturquoisedoor reblogged this from scientificillustration
  13. definitionwanderlust reblogged this from scientificillustration
  14. righteouswisdom reblogged this from scientificillustration
  15. jadetalkinghere reblogged this from rhamphotheca
  16. fromsandtoglass reblogged this from good-conservation-news
  17. good-conservation-news reblogged this from unleashthewild
  18. unleashthewild reblogged this from rhamphotheca
  19. worldwar3iscoming reblogged this from scientificillustration
  20. ghendel reblogged this from scientificillustration
  21. siriusbonerr reblogged this from capntrips
  22. 666actualdemonlordraffitorres666 reblogged this from capntrips
  23. capntrips reblogged this from elf-shot
  24. whatadebbiedowner reblogged this from scientificillustration
  25. meiolania reblogged this from scientificillustration and added:
    Working on a paper-mache manatee and this pops up on my dash. Reason #226 why I love Tumblr.
  26. elf-shot reblogged this from scientificillustration
  27. pachydermslovepeanuts reblogged this from scientificillustration and added:
    I love manatees