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| SCIENTIFIC
CLASSIFICATION |
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| COMMON
NAME: |
West
Indian manatee, American manatee, Antillean manatee,
Florida manatee |
| KINGDOM: |
Animalia |
| PHYLUM: |
Chordata |
| CLASS: |
Mammalia |
| ORDER: |
Sirenia |
| FAMILY: |
Trichecidae |
| GENUS
SPECIES: |
Trichechus
manatus (Scientists also recognize two subspecies
of West Indian manatee: the Antillean manatee, T.m.
manatus, and the Florida manatee, T.m. latirostris.) |
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| DESCRIPTION: |
Manatees
have a fusiform body shape that is wide throughout
the middle region and tapers to a paddle-like tail
at the anterior end. The foreflippers are small
and manatees have no hind limbs. Manatees have skin
that is wrinkled and typically gray in color, although
many have greenish or brownish patches due to algae
growth on their dorsal region. Hair is scattered
sparsely over the body with the greatest concentration
around the snout. The upper lip of manatees is large
and prehensile (highly flexible) and covered with
short vibrissae (whiskers). |
| MALE |
When
viewed from the underside, a male's genital slit
is positioned roughly midway along the torso. |
| FEMALE |
When
viewed from the underside, a female's genital slit
is positioned in the posterior third of the torso.
Additionally, though not readily apparent under
all viewing circumstances, females have mammary
glands located at each armpit. |
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| SIZE: |
Mature
manatees average 3 m (10 ft.) in length. At birth,
West Indian manatees measure roughly 1.2-1.4 m (4-4.5
ft.). |
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| WEIGHT: |
Mature
adults' average weight range is approximately 363-544
kg (800-1,200 lb.); newborn calves weigh 27-32 kg
(60-70 lb.) |
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| DIET: |
The
Florida manatee feeds on more than 60 varieties
of grasses and plants. A manatee's only teeth are
molars, for grinding vegetation. Some research suggests
that manatees periodically require fresh water to
drink. |
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| GESTATION: |
Approximately
12 months |
| NURSING
DURATION |
About
12-18 months (wean) |
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| SEXUAL
MATURITY: |
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| MALE |
Up
to 10 years |
| FEMALE |
As
young as 3 years of age |
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| LIFE
SPAN: |
Upper
limit is approximately 50-60 years |
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| RANGE: |
Southeastern
North America (Virginia to Louisiana), the Caribbean
and the southern coast of Texas to the coast of
Brazil. |
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| HABITAT: |
The
West Indian manatees live in rivers, bays, estuaries,
and coastal areas. They can move freely between
freshwater and saltwater habitats. Manatees are
usually found at or near the surface. |
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| POPULATION: |
GLOBAL |
Unknown |
| REGIONAL |
It
is estimated that as few as 1,900-3,000 Florida
manatees remain in Florida waters |
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| STATUS: |
IUCN |
Vulnerable |
| CITES |
Appendix
I |
| USFWS |
Endangered |
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| 1. |
Manatees
belong to the mammalian order Sirenia. There are
three species of manatees and one species of dugong:
A fifth species, Steller's sea cow, was hunted
to extinction in 1768.
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Dugong,
Dugong dugon
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Amazonian
manatee, Trichechus inunguis |
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West
Indian manatee, Trichechus manatus |
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West
African manatee, Trichechus senegalensis |
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| 2. |
A female manatee, called a cow, gives birth about
once every three years. A calf nurses from teats
under the mother's pectoral flippers. |
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| 3. |
Scientific evidence links manatees most closely
to elephants and hyraxes. Anatomical traits that
manatees share with these animals include the absence
of a clavicle (collar) bone and the presence of
nails instead of claws. Also, these animal groups
have a similar dental anatomy and are herbivores. |
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| 4. |
For
more information about manatees, explore the manatee
info book. |
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| Florida
manatees are highly susceptible to cold; it's not
unusual for them to die during extremely cold weather.
But human activities pose a much greater threat
to manatees. Each year, many Florida manatees are
killed and injured by watercraft, the greatest human-induced
cause of Florida manatee deaths. Other threats include
entanglement, poaching, and habitat destruction.
All manatees are protected by national and local
legislation in every country in which they are found.
In
cooperation with the United States fish and Wildlife
Service and the Florida's Department of Natural
Resources, SeaWorld's Animal Rescue and Rehabilitation
Team rescues ill, injured and orphaned manatees
and brings them to SeaWorld. Dedicated animal
care specialists and state-of-the-art equipment
combine to help the injured manatees recover their
strength. Whenever possible, manatees are returned
to their natural habitat. More than 35 manatees
have been rehabilitated and released by SeaWorld.
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|
|
Jefferson,
T.J. Leatherwood, S. and M.A. Webber. FAO Species
Identification Guide. Marine Mammals of the World.
Rome. FAO, 1993.
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| |
|
Nowak, Ronald M. (ed.). Walker's Mammals of the
World. Vol. II. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University
Press, 1991. |
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|
Parker, S. (ed.). Grizmek's Encyclopedia of
Mammals. Vol. IV. New York: McGraw-Hill Publishing
Co., 1990.
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| Reeves,
R. R., Stewart, B.S., Clapman, P.J., and J.A. Powell
(Peter Folkens illustrator). National Audubon
Society: Guide to Marine Mammals of the World.
New York: Random House, 2002. |
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| Reeves,
R.R., Stewart, B.S. and S. Stephen. The Sierra
Club Handbook of Seals and Sirenians. San Francisco:
Sierra Club Books, 1992. |
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| Wlodarski,
L. Siren's Song: The Story of Manatees. SeaWorld
Education Department Publication. San Diego, SeaWorld,
Inc. 1998. |
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| http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu |
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