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Glite Dictionary
Sirenia

Sirenia

9.1
Large sea animals that eat plants, like manatees and dugongs
  • noun
  • /sɪˈrɪniə/
  • Specialized
: sirénidos
  • The order Sirenia is distinguished by its paddle-like flippers and herbivorous diet.

Examples

  • Many species of Sirenia are endangered today.

  • The Sirenia are known for their gentle nature.

  • Extant members of Sirenia are found in warm coastal waters around the world.

  • Scientists believe that Sirenia evolved from terrestrial mammals millions of years ago.

  • The Sirenia order includes manatees, which are often found in warm coastal waters.

  • Conservationists are working to protect the Sirenia species from extinction due to habitat loss.

  • Dugongs, known as Sirenia, are vital to the health of seagrass ecosystems.

Synonyms

order Sirenia
vsSirenia
  • Specialized
8.4

A group of large water mammals like manatees and dugongs that eat plants

has the same meaning but names the group without the taxonomic label

Compounds

order Sirenia
  • Specialized
8.4

A group of large water mammals like manatees and dugongs that eat plants

Surface Forms

Sirenia singular
Sirenias plural

Morphology

Sirenia = siren (opaque) = siren + ia

Although formed from 'siren' + the Latinized suffix '-ia', the taxonomic meaning 'order of aquatic mammals' is not derivable by an average B1 learner from the base word.

Etymology

Sirenia comes from the old word siren, the sea 'mermaid' of ancient stories who sang to sailors, because early seafarers sometimes thought manatees looked like mermaids. So Sirenia is the name for the group of sea mammals like manatees and dugongs, and the name reminds us of that old mix-up.