FOOD-HANDLING ABILITY AND FEEDING-CYCLE LENGTH OF MANATEES FEEDING ON SEVERAL SPECIES OF AQUATIC PLANTS

• Published in: Journal of mammalogy Vol. 81; no. 3; pp. 649 - 658
• Main Authors: Marshall, Christopher D., Kubilis, Paul S., Huth, Glenn D., Edmonds, Virginia M., Halin, Deborah L., Reep, Roger L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Provo, UT American Society of Mammalogists 01.08.2000; Brigham Young University, Department of Zoology; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Animal behavior; Animal ethology; Animal feeding behavior; Aquatic mammals; Aquatic plants; Biological and medical sciences; Body length; consumption; Experimentation; FEATURE ARTICLES; Feeding; feeding behavior; Food; Food handling; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; herbivory; Mammalia; Mammalogy; Mammals; Manatees; Mastication; perioral bristles; Plants; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Sirenia; Vertebrata; Zoos; Feeding behavior; Herbivorous; Aquatic environment; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Sirenia; Food intake; Animal plant relation; Body size; Trichechus manatus; Captivity; Zoo; Handling

Food-handling ability was examined in Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) feeding on different species of aquatic plants during controlled feeding trials. Subjects were presented with freshwater (Hydrilla verticillata, Myriophyllum spicatum, and Vallisneria americana) and marine specie...