Sirenia, << sy REE nee uh, >> is the name of an order (group) of water mammals related to elephants and hyraxes. The two living families are the dugongs and manatees (see Dugong ; Manatee ). The name Sirenia came from an old belief of sailors that dugongs and manatees were sirens or mermaids. Sirenians live in the shallow waters along tropical seacoasts and in lagoons, swamps, and rivers. They feed on aquatic plants. Sirenians are regarded as threatened or endangered species worldwide. It is illegal to hunt them in most countries. Their low rate of reproduction makes it difficult for sirenian populations to grow.
