West Indian Manatee
Trichechus manatus
Mammalia
VULNERABLE
Stats
- Lifespan
- Up to 60 yrs
- Size
- Huge
- Diet
- Herbivore
- Activity
- Cathemeral
- Social
- Solitary
- Biome
- Coastal waters
- Range
- The Americas
- Movement
- Swimming
- Breeding
- Live Birth
- Defense
- Size
- Status
- Vulnerable
About
The West Indian manatee, or North American manatee, is the largest living member of the sirenians, a group of large aquatic mammals that includes the dugong, other manatees, and the extinct Steller's sea cow. This gentle giant feeds on underwater plants and uses its whiskers to navigate.
Life cycle
- 1.newbornA live-born newborn nurses on its mother's milk and depends on her for warmth and protection.
- 2.juvenileA weaned juvenile begins eating solid food and learning from its parents or group.
- 3.adultFully grown at adult size.
Learn more
Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Mammalia
- Order
- Sirenia
- Family
- Trichechidae
- Genus
- Trichechus
- Species
- Trichechus manatus