FratFiles

• Save Paper

Evolution of Sirenia

Many scientists believe that sirenians evolved around fifty-five million years ago from small hoofed animals. The closests living relatives today are elephants and small asian mammals called hyraxes. Although there are vast differences between elephants, hyraxes, and sirenians, fossil evidence shows that all three evolved from a common ancestor. The manatee's physical characteristics are visible remnants of their ancient heritage. The dugong's tusks are another link to elephants. Like elephants, sirenians are enormous animals.
There are five species of Sirenia, but scientists theorize that there were many more in the past. Early forms of manatees are thought to have originated near the Amazon basin in South America. Some remained there to become the Amazonian manatee, while others migrated up through the Caribbean, giving rise to the Antillean and Florida manatees. Another group managed to swim or where carried on currents across the Atlantic and became......

View the rest of this paper...

Approximate Word Count: 1202
Approximate Pages: 5 (250 words per double-spaced page)

Similar Essays

1. John Updike's Works
   

   which can bring about the capturing of the inconceivable. Edward P. Vargo stated that John Updike uses ritual "to fulfill the great desire of capturing the past, to make the

2. John Updike
   

   John Updike John Hoyer Updike was born March 18, 1932 to Linda Grace Updike and Wesley Russell Updike in Reading, Pennsylvania. Wesley Updike was originally from New Jersey where

3. John Updike's A&Amp;P : Sammy's Growth
   

   john updike's A&P : Sammy's growth John Updike's A&P : Sammy's Growth John Updike's story A&P is about a nineteen year old boy, Sammy, who has a job at the local grocery store,

4. John Updike
   

   John Updike "But for a few phrases from his letters and an odd line or two of his verse, the poet walks gagged through his own biography." John Updike, for one of the most famous

5. John Updike's &Quot;A&Amp;P&Quot;
   

   be fulfilled by any narrative, except as art, as illusion." The author concludes that John Updike along with many other artists feel that "art and life are different human