The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) region supports globally significant populations of the dugong,
a medium-sized coastal marine mammal and a seagrass community specialist. The dugong …

The successful return of mammals to aquatic environments presented numerous sensory
challenges to overcome. Aquatic habitats reduced the utility of vision and the type of …

Mammalian tactile hairs are commonly found on specific, restricted regions of the body, but
Florida manatees represent a unique exception, exhibiting follicle-sinus complexes (FSCs …

The evolutionary process of readaptation to the aquatic environment was accompanied by
extreme anatomical and physiological changes in the brain. This review discusses cortical …

Mammalian species use tactile hairs to address a variety of perceptual challenges in
detecting and responding appropriately to environmental stimuli. With a wide range of …

Aquatic mammals use vibrissae to detect hydrodynamic stimuli over a range from 5 to 150
Hz, similar to the range detected by lateral line systems in fishes and amphibians. Manatees …

Florida manatees are large‐bodied aquatic herbivores that use large tactile vibrissae for
several purposes. Facial vibrissae are used to forage in a turbid water environment, and the …

Sirenians have evolved novel innovations relative to other terrestrial and marine mammals
for life as aquatic herbivores. The study of their natural history and adaptations provides …

Interpreting the evolution of neuronal types in the cerebral cortex of mammals requires
information from a diversity of species. However, there is currently a paucity of data from the …

Manatees live in shallow, frequently turbid waters. The sensory means by which they
navigate in these conditions are unknown. Poor visual acuity, lack of echolocation, and …