The mammary glands of the amazonian manatee, trichechus inunguis (mammalia: Sirenia): Morphological characteristics and microscopic anatomy

Abstract

The mammaries from carcasses of two female Amazonian manatees were examined. Trichechus inunguis possesses two axillary mammaries beneath the pectoral fins, one on each side of the body. Each papilla mammae has a small hole on its apex-the ostium papillare. The mammaries are covered by a stratified squamous keratinized epithelium. The epithelium of the mammary ducts became thinner more deeply in the tissue and varied from stratified to simple cuboidal. There was no evidence of glandular activity or secretion into the ducts of the mammary glands. Anat Rec, 297:1532-1535, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.