West Indian Manatees, scientifically known as Trichechus manatus, are large aquatic mammals belonging to the order Sirenia. They are herbivorous and closely related to dugongs and the extinct Steller's sea cow. The West Indian Manatee is further divided into three subspecies: the Florida Manatee, the Antillean Manatee, and the Amazonian Manatee.
These gentle giants are characterized by their rotund bodies, which can reach lengths of up to 13 feet and weigh over a ton. Their grayish-brown skin is thick and wrinkled, often covered in barnacles and scars from encounters with boats and other hazards. A distinguishing feature of West Indian Manatees is their paddle-shaped tails, which are used for propulsion in water.
West Indian Manatees have adapted to a fully aquatic lifestyle, dwelling in various freshwater, brackish, and coastal marine habitats along the Atlantic coast of North and South America. They can frequently be found in warm, slow-moving waters such as estuaries, lagoons, rivers, and coastal bays.
As herbivores, manatees subsist on a diet primarily composed of seagrasses and other aquatic vegetation. They have specialized lips and teeth designed for grazing and consuming plant matter. These animals spend an estimated six to eight hours each day feeding, as they require large amounts of vegetation to fulfill their energy needs.
Due to their slow reproductive rate and dependence on specific habitats, West Indian Manatees are vulnerable to numerous threats, including habitat loss, pollution, boat strikes, and hunting. Consequently, they are classified as "endangered" under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. Conservation efforts, including habitat protection, speed zones in waterways, and
