Trichechus manatus Linnaeus, 1758
West Indian manatee
Trichechus manatus
photo by Ryan, Paddy

Family:  Trichechidae ()
Max. size:  390 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,590 kg
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 13 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Trichechus manatus manatus: from the coasts and rivers of Mexico to as far south to Rio Doce, Brazil including the Orinoco and Amazon; Trichechus manatus latirostris: from the Florida Peninsula to Rhode Island. Tropical to temperate.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Found in coastal marine, brackish and freshwater areas. Feeds on aquatic plants, (i.e. water hyacinths and marine seagrasses, algae, parts of mangrove trees, floating and shoreline vegetation); invertebrates (i.e. tunicates); and fish they remove from fishing nets (Ref. 1394).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 30 June 2008 (C1) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:   
 

Source and more info: www.sealifebase.org. For personal, classroom, and other internal use only. Not for publication.