Mermaids by another name

Africa's great Niger River rises in the mountains of Guinea to cut a huge 2600-mile arc before flowing into Atlantic Ocean on Nigeria's tropical coast. During its course it passes through beautiful but brutal Sahel Mali, bringing life Timbuktu still some 1300 miles from river's mouth. Go another 150 or so further upstream, however, and river unexpectedly spawns rich, green wetland covering nearly 16,000 square – Inner Delta, also known as Masina. Who would believe that here, over 1500 canoe-miles sea, even way beyond itself, there are mermaids if that's right term… Well, sirenians, animals often proposed be fish-tailed maidens sailors’ legends African manatees (Trichechus senegalensis) precise (Figure 1). Very little is about these creatures’ lives, although we do know that, while smaller, they look very similar their better-known West Indian manatee cousins manatus) who hail Florida Caribbean. And like them inhabit warm coastal waters estuaries; you might see one (if lucky) feeding seagrass anywhere southern Mauritania central Angola. But existence well inland, no matter how unexpected, new discovery. Even those us living far banks have had ample time take note. Saeed One earliest reports European literature was made by French clergyman Jean-Baptiste Labat, wrote at length creature his Nouvelle Relation de l'Afrique Occidentale, published 1728. Labat collector collator notes taken missionaries travelled Africa, using information he describes an animal commonly encountered Niger. In addition, debunks oft-held fallacy haul themselves onto land feed, accurately grazing aquatic plants (although now eat small fish clams). While makes slip-up reporting mothers cradle young transport them, likely confusion with nursing behavior (the mammary glands under flippers), provides what first drawing ever mother tending her calf. Later, German sojourner Heinrich Barth write Travels Discoveries North Central Africa (1858, volumes II, III, V) seal-like creature, “ayú”, inhabiting rivers system; Mr Vogel described specimen saw being “a mammal Manatus Senegalensis”; common near Timbuktu. Indeed, noted local people up-river city wore rich profusion white rings, [made] bones remarkable ayú, Manatus, which seems not less frequent western than eastern branch Niger”. Delta only places inland for manatees. Small populations exist Lake Volta Ghana, Ossa Cameroon, upstream many major rivers. Isolated can found Lakes Léré Tréné hundreds sea southwestern border Chad, until recently plied affluents Chad itself. alone freshwater choice. Across Atlantic, Amazonian inunguis) occupies entire Amazon network Brazil Ecuador 2000 never entering sea. much paleobiological evidence suggests ancestors modern sirenians became rather marine abandoned land, later adaptation salt water allowed disperse successfully around world during Eocene (PLoS ONE 2013; doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0054307). Perhaps terms “mermaid” “sea cow” then least partial misnomers; “river girl” altogether fitting. Sadly, you'd observe girls, best try now, numbers longer alluded Barth. Despite protections designated across range, 10,000 may remain threat hunting, entanglement fishing nets, pollution, isolation drought building dams, use traditional medicine, and, countries, persecution rice farmers retaliation eating crops. Fortunately, trying reverse girl's fortunes research, education, conservation projects; example, work Lucy Keith-Diagne Aquatic Conservation Fund (https://africanaquaticconservation.org), Aristide Takoukam Kamla Cameroon (https://saveourseas.com/project-leader/aristide-takoukam-kamla), Edem Eniang Nigeria (https://biodiversitypreservationcenter.org/index.php/projects). For sake species, moniker, I hope succeed. Adrian Burton