West Indian manatee

Trichechus manatus

The West Indian manatee is a large herbivorous sirenian of freshwater and coastal waters. Cathemeral and slow-moving, it often forms loose groups.

Key facts

West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is a herbivore animal classified as Mammal · Sirenia · Trichechidae.
Primary habitats are freshwater · coast, with a range across Neotropical · Atlantic Ocean.
Activity is cathemeral, sociality is loose group, and conservation status is VU (Vulnerable).
The West Indian manatee is a large herbivorous sirenian of freshwater and coastal waters.
It uses rivers, estuaries, shallow coasts, and warm springs.
Typical lifespan: 10-20 years

Habitat range map

Native rangeOccasional / Transient

Map: Ecoregions 2017 © RESOLVE (CC BY 4.0) · Natural Earth (PD)

It uses rivers, estuaries, shallow coasts, and warm springs. Water temperature and aquatic vegetation strongly shape its movements.

Body length is about 250-400 cm and weight about 400-1,600 kg. A rounded body, paddle-like forelimbs, and broad tail support slow swimming.

It alternates feeding and resting through day and night. Individuals move alone or in loose groups and surface regularly to breathe.

It is herbivorous, eating aquatic plants, seagrasses, and floating vegetation. It grazes slowly while moving through shallow water.

Calves are born in water and nurse while swimming beside the mother. The mother-calf bond is long, and young learn travel routes from her.

Its status is listed as Vulnerable. Boat strikes, cold stress, and coastal habitat change are frequent concerns.