West Indian Manatee [Trichechus manatus]
Description
The West Indian Manatee is a large, slow-moving aquatic mammal that inhabits the warm coastal waters and rivers of the Caribbean Sea, Gulf of Mexico, and the southeastern United States. It is characterized by a large, round body that tapers to a flat, paddle-shaped tail, with two flippers at the front of the body. West Indian Manatees have a wrinkled, brownish-grey skin, and their face features a whiskered snout. They are herbivores, feeding on a variety of submerged, emergent, and shoreline vegetation. They are known for their gentle nature and are primarily solitary animals, although they are occasionally seen in small groups.
Where To See West Indian Manatee
Sipadan Drop Off
Sipadan Island
, Malaysia
Turtle Cavern
Sipadan Island
, Malaysia
White Tip Avenue
Sipadan Island
, Malaysia
Coral Garden
Sipadan Island
, Malaysia
South Point
Sipadan Island
, Malaysia
Gladden Spit
Placencia
, Belize
Darwin's Arch
Galápagos Islands
, Ecuador
Wolf Island
Galápagos Islands
, Ecuador
Gordon Rocks
Galápagos Islands
, Ecuador
Marsa Mubarak
Marsa Alam
, Egypt
Taxonomy
| Phylum |
Fish, Sharks & Rays (plus Sea Turtles & Whales)
Chordata
|
|---|---|
| Class |
Mammals
Mammalia
|
| Order |
Sea Cows
Sirenia
|
| Family |
Manatees
Trichechidae
|
| Genus |
Manatee
Trichechus
|
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