Description:
Classification:
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Chordata
- Class: Mammalia
- Order: Sirenia
- Family: Trichechidae
- Genus: Trichechus
- Species: manatus
There are two subspecies of the West Indian manatee - the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) and the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus).
Habitat and Distribution:
Feeding:
West Indian manatees are herbivorous, meaning they feed on plants. They have prehensile lips with several separate muscles that allow them to easily grasp and rip vegetation.
Reproduction:
When a female is ready to mate, she will be followed by several bulls (males), who may push and shove each other to get close to the female. These mating herds have been described as a "free for all," in which you may see flailing forelimbs and tails and churning water. The female may mate with more than one male, and mating occurs as an embrace that lasts only about 30 seconds.
The female is pregnant for about a year, after which she gives birth to a calf that is about 47 inches long. The calf weighs about 60 pounds at birth. The calf stays with its mother for about 2 years, although there have been reports of calves with their mothers as long as four years.
Conservation Status:
The West Indian manatee is listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.
Sources:
- Arkive. 2009. West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus). (Online). Arkive. Accessed October 20, 2009.
- Brook Van Meter, V. (For Florida Power and Light). 2001. The Florida Manatee (Online). Accessed October 19, 2009.
- Perrin., W.F., Wursig, B. and J.G.M. Thewissen (eds.). 2002. Encyclopedia Of Marine Mammals. Academic Press.
- Ramey, Vic. 2004. Manatees. (Online). Plant Management In Florida Waters. Accessed October 20, 2009.
- Save the Manatee Club. 2009. Manatee Birth and Reproduction. (Online). Save the Manatee Club. Accessed October 20, 2009.
- Waller, G. 1996. Sea Life: A Complete Guide To the Marine Environment. Smithsonian Institution Press: Washington, D.C.
