West Indian Manatee
Trichechus manatus · Mammal, Vertebrate, Warm-blooded, Wild
Animal Family
Trichechidae, order Sirenia, class Mammalia
Animal Category
Marine Animal / Endangered Species
Breed / Variety
Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris)
Conservation Status
Vulnerable; population is recovering due to strict protection laws but still heavily impacted by human activities
About This Creature
Large, gray, marine mammal with a stout, seal-shaped body, a paddle-shaped tail, and two front flippers; typically measures 2.5 to 4 meters long and weighs between 200 and 600 kilograms
Physical Characteristics
Hydrodynamic body covered in tough, wrinkled gray or brown skin sparsely covered with hairs; rounded snout with sensory vibrissae; flattened paddle-like tail used for propulsion; lacks hind limbs
Behavior & Temperament
Gentle, slow-moving, and largely solitary or found in loose mother-calf pairs; spends about half the day resting submerged and the rest feeding or traveling; communicates via squeaks and chirps
Habitat & Diet
Origin Region
Coastal waters of the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the southeastern United States, particularly Florida
Habitat
Coastal marine waters, slow-moving rivers, saltwater bays, and estuaries; Semi-aquatic/Aquatic
Diet & Nutrition
Herbivore feeding heavily on seagrasses, freshwater vegetation, and algae; forages along river bottoms and shallow coastal areas
Lifespan & Health
Lifespan of up to 60 years in the wild; vulnerable to boat strikes, cold stress, red tide algae blooms, and loss of warm-water habitats
Special Characteristics
Known colloquially as sea cows; completely aquatic marine herbivores with no natural predators other than humans and occasionally killer whales or large sharks
Ecological Information
Acts as an important consumer of aquatic vegetation, helping maintain healthy seagrass beds and preventing waterways from becoming completely overgrown