Pictures and facts about the West Indian manatee

Trichechus manatus posters

West Indian manatee

Order : Sirenia
Family : Trichechidae
Species : Trichechus manatus

The West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) is the largest member of the order of Sirenia and can weigh up to 1500 kilograms, although usually somewhere between 400 and 800 kilos. All manatees have a split upper lip. They use both parts of the lip to help put food in their mouths.Because grasses aren't very nutritious they feed on huge quantities. This has also given them a very slow metabolism. Some taxonomies differ two subspecies, the Florida Manatee and the Antillean Manatee. All the three species of manatee are listed as 'vulnerable to extinction' by the IUCN. Although they do not have any natural predators, the increase in human activity has reduced its habitat in the coastal marsh areas and manatees are often injured or killed by collisions with powerboats. Manatees like warm, shallow, coastal estuarine waters, and because of that they often congregate near power plants, where the water is warmer. Some manatees have become reliant on this source of heating and have stopped to migrate to warmer waters. Recently, a couple of power plants have been shut down and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is trying to find a new way to heat the water for these manatees. In Florida, swimming with manatees is a tourist attraction.

The oldest living manatee is Snooty, living in the South Florida Museum and was born July 21, 1948, which makes him 56 years of age!

Facts about the West Indian manatee

FAMILY: Trichechidae STATUS: Endangered, Federal Register, March 11, 1967, June 2, 1970 DESCRIPTION: The West Indian Manatee is a large gray or brown aquatic mammal.

PROTECTION West Indian Manatees are protected in the United States on a federal level by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, and the Endangered Species Act of 1973.

The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) is believed to have evolved from a four-footed, plant-eating land mammal more than 60 million years ago.

The West Indian manatee is a marine mammal that grows to 1,000 pounds and roams U.

The West Indian manatee is one in a few in this family.

The West Indian manatee is related to the West African manatee, the Amazonian manatee, the Dugong, and Steller's sea cow, which was hunted to extinction in 1768.

West Indian manatee is a unique creature, it looks like no other animal in the world.

Within the United States, West Indian manatees are concentrated in Florida in the winter, but in summer months travel as far west as Alabama and as far north as Virginia.

Geographic Range The West Indian manatee or sea cow (Trichechus manatus) is commonly found in shallow coastal areas, but can also be found in shallow rivers, estuaries, and canals. (Full text)

West Indian Manatee or Trichechus manatus is listed on the IUCN Red list (1996) as Vulnerable due to A2d. (Full text)

The manatee (Trichechus manatus) is also protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972 (50 CFR 18; PL 92-522; 86 Stat. (Full text)

West Indian manatees are large, aquatic animals that are gray-brown in color. (Full text)

The West Indian Manatee is one of the gentlest and most peaceful creatures on earth. (Full text)

Color each area as you read this book: find and label the areas on your map where the West Indian manatee is from and color them green,. (Full text)

physical size: the Trichechus manatus is massive. (Full text)

:( They're Are Lots Of Manatees In Florida, I Have Seen Them :) West Indian manatees are large, gray-brown aquatic mammals with bodies that taper to a flat, paddle-shaped tail. (Full text)

The Manatee, Trichechus manatus, is a large, water-dwelling mammal. (Full text)

Within the United States, West Indian manatees are concentrated in Florida in the winter, but can be found in summer months as far west as Alabama and as far north as Virginia and the Carolinas. (Full text)

West Indian manatees are found in rivers, estuaries, and coastal areas of the tropical and subtropical New World from the southeastern United States coast along Central America and the West Indies to the northern coastline of South America. (Full text)

(Trichechus Manatus) ( picture) The West Indian Manatee is probably the best known member of this odd group of mammals. (Full text)

Description: West Indian manatees are large, gray aquatic mammals with bodies that taper to a flat, paddle-shaped tail. (Full text)

The West Indian manatee is related to the West African manatee, the Amazonian manatee, the dugong, and to the Steller's sea cow, which was hunted to extinction in 1768. (Full text)

  However, West Indian manatees are considered endangered throughout their range. (Full text)

West Indian ManateeTrichechus manatus Also Called: Sea CowThe West Indian manatee is a uniform gray or brown color. (Full text)