Number of cervical vertebrae in sea cow (a mammal) is

Options

A. 7
B. 9
C. 6
D. 8

Answer

To determine the number of cervical vertebrae in a sea cow, we can follow these steps:

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Identify the Classification**: Understand that the sea cow belongs to the order Sirenia under the class Mammalia. This classification is important as it provides context about the animal's characteristics.

2. **General Characteristics of Mammals**: Recognize that most mammals typically have seven cervical vertebrae. This is a standard anatomical feature across the majority of mammalian species.

3. **Exceptions to the Rule**: Note that there are exceptions to this rule. Specifically, sloths and manatees are known to have a different number of cervical vertebrae.

4. **Focus on Manatees**: Since sea cows are commonly referred to as manatees, we can directly refer to the anatomical structure of manatees. It is noted that manatees have only six cervical vertebrae instead of the usual seven.

5. **Conclusion**: Therefore, the number of cervical vertebrae in a sea cow (manatee) is six.

### Final Answer:
The number of cervical vertebrae in a sea cow is **6**.

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