West Indian Manatee
Trichechus manatus
- Class
- Mammal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Observations
- 7,411
- Most observed in
- 🇺🇸 United States
- Conservation
- Vulnerable
Description
The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), also known as the North American manatee, is a large, aquatic mammal native to warm coastal areas of the Caribbean, from the Eastern United States to northern Brazil. Living alone or in herds, it feeds on underwater plants and uses its whiskers to navigate. It is divided into two subspecies, the Florida manatee (T.
Summary adapted from the Wikipedia article “West Indian manatee”.