keelerikas

Keelerikas is a genus of extinct marine mammals belonging to the family Dugongidae, closely related to modern dugongs and manatees. These creatures lived during the Miocene epoch, approximately 15 to 10 million years ago, and are known for their adaptations to aquatic environments.

Fossil evidence of keelerikas shows characteristics typical of sirenians, including a robust, elongated body, paddle-like flippers, and a tail fluke. Their skulls exhibit features that suggest a herbivorous diet, primarily feeding on seagrasses and aquatic vegetation. The structure of their jaws and teeth indicates a specialized digestive system suited for processing fibrous plant material.

Keelerikas inhabited shallow coastal waters and estuarine environments, where they likely played a significant role in maintaining healthy seagrass beds through grazing. Their body size varies among species, with some estimates suggesting lengths ranging from 3 to 4 meters.

The discovery of keelerikas fossils has contributed to understanding the evolutionary history of sirenians. Their existence demonstrates a period of diversification among marine herbivores during the Miocene, reflective of changing marine ecosystems and climate conditions. Like other dugongids, keelerikas are thought to have been baleen-less, relying on filter-feeding strategies suited to their diet.

Though extinct, keelerikas offer insights into the evolutionary adaptations of marine mammals to aquatic life and continue to be of interest in paleontological studies related to marine biodiversity and conservation of modern sirenians.