Definition of Sirenia in English:
Sirenia
plural nounsʌɪˈriːnɪəsīˈrēnēə
Zoology An order of large aquatic plant-eating mammals that includes the manatees and dugong. They live chiefly in tropical coastal waters and are distinguished by paddle-like forelimbs and a tail flipper replacing hindlimbs.
Order Sirenia: two families and four living species
Example sentencesExamples
- Belonging to the order Sirenia, dugongs are believed to have given rise to the mermaid myth.
- Dugongs belong to the mammalian order Sirenia and are popularly known as sea-cows.
- Marine mammals are divided into three orders: Carnivora, Sirenia and Cetacea.
Origin
Modern Latin (see siren).