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Scientific Name: Trichechus manatus

Subspecies include:

T. manatus latirostris (Florida Manatee)

T. manatus manatus (Antillean Manatee)

Common Name(s): West Indian Manatee, Caribbean Manatee, Florida Manatee, American Manatee (Mignucci-Giannoni et al 2025).

Physical Appearance:

The West Indian Manatee is a large, slow moving aquatic mammal with a robust, tapered body that ends with a rounded, paddle-shaped tail. On average, they are 11 feet long and weigh approximately 2,200 lbs, with some individuals attaining weights as high as 3,500 lbs. Calves measure 3-5 feet long and can weigh about 65 lbs at birth (Reep and Bonde, 2021).

They have thick, grayish-brown skin that is sparsely covered in bristles and may have algae growing on it. Their forelimbs are modified into flippers and hind limbs are absent altogether. Their bones are incredibly dense to help control buoyancy and lack marrow cavities. However, their bones are generally weaker than other mammals (Clifton, 2005), this is likely because their bones have high mineral concentration and density (Clifton, 2005).

As a swimmer it is efficient, but not particularly powerful when compared to cetaceans (Kojeszewski and Fish, 2007). Manatees swim with undulating movements that utilize their flattened tail primarily, but may also swim using the entire body (Kojeszewski and Fish, 2007). Their swimming style is conducive to their lifestyle as aquatic grazers and seasonal migrants (Kojeszewski and Fish, 2007). . .

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Economic Importance

Manatees are a source of immense ecotourism in regions of Florida, with thousands of visitors being drawn to regional winter hotspots such as Crystal River to snorkel and boat with them (Reep and Bonde, 2021). This encourages local communities to emphasize protection of manatees since they are a significan source of revenue. Conservation of manatees indirectly benefits other industries by improving water quality, maintaining channels, and increasing ecosystem productivity (Reep and Bonde, 2021). They are not hunted and have been protected since the 1800s in the USA (Reep and Bonde, 2021).

Not all is roses and sunshine though. Watercraft collisions are an common cause of mortality to manatees, are frequent, and the resulting mitigation and law enforcement efforts can be costly to communities (Antunez, 2024). On rare occasions, Trichechus will damage fishing gear and interfere with boat traffic. . .