05/30/2026
Today’s Species Spotlight is the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus). There are three extant species of manatee, and the West Indian manatee is one of the largest, commonly reaching 9–10 feet in length and weighing between 800–1,200 pounds. These remarkable marine mammals can live in freshwater, brackish, and saltwater environments. West Indian manatees are divided into two subspecies: The Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), and the Antillean Manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus).
These sirenians (the order that includes manatees and dugongs) are often called “sea cows” because they are gentle, slow-moving herbivores that spend up to eight hours each day feeding on aquatic vegetation. They use their powerful, paddle-shaped tails for propulsion and are easily recognized by their large gray bodies, flippers, and split upper lips, which help them grasp food. Although their ancestors evolved from land-dwelling mammals approximately 50 million years ago, manatees still retain fingernails on the tips of their flippers!
West Indian manatees spend much of their time feeding and resting and can hold their breath for up to 24 minutes while resting. They are found primarily in Florida’s springs and coastal waters, with seasonal movements north to Georgia and the Carolinas, and occasionally as far north as Massachusetts. They have also been documented westward along the Gulf Coast to Louisiana and Texas. Internationally, they can be found along the coasts of Central America, throughout the Caribbean, and in northeastern South America.
While manatees have no significant natural predators, they face numerous human-caused threats, including habitat loss, entanglement, poaching, and boat strikes. West Indian manatees have been known to approach and even try to hug divers, but are protected under the Endangered Species Act and the Marine Mammal Protection Act. The Florida manatee is currently listed as threatened, while the Antillean manatee is considered endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
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