Manatee

Manatees are large, slow-moving aquatic mammals in the genus Trichechus, sometimes called sea cows.

Manatees are large, slow-moving aquatic mammals in the genus Trichechus, also known as sea cows. The three living species are the Amazonian manatee, West Indian manatee, and West African manatee. They are herbivores inhabiting warm shallow waters, rivers, and estuaries in the Americas and West Africa.

Taxonomy and species

Manatees are sirenians in the family Trichechidae. Living species include the Amazonian manatee, West Indian manatee, and West African manatee, all placed in the genus Trichechus.

Description and behaviour

Manatees are large, slow aquatic mammals with flippers and a flat, paddle-shaped tail. They spend much of the day grazing and are adapted to life in warm water.

Habitat and range

Manatees live in shallow rivers, estuaries, bays, canals, and coastal waters. Their ranges include tropical and subtropical parts of the Americas and West Africa.

Diet and feeding

Manatees are primarily herbivorous and feed on aquatic plants. Sources describe them as spending many hours each day eating and consuming large quantities of vegetation.

Conservation

Manatees face threats such as habitat loss, hunting in some regions, boat strikes, and environmental changes. Conservation assessments classify the living species as vulnerable or otherwise at elevated extinction risk.