manatí

Manatí, or manatee, refers to the three living species of large, herbivorous marine mammals in the order Sirenia. They belong to the family Trichechidae and genus Trichechus. The three extant species are the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis), and the African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis). The West Indian manatee has two widely recognized subspecies: the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) and the Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus).

Distribution and habitat are primarily warm, shallow coastal waters, rivers, and estuaries. Manatees occur in the Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico, along the northern coast of South America, and in parts of West Africa and the Amazon Basin. They rely on abundant aquatic vegetation and may undertake seasonal movements to stay within suitable temperatures and food supplies. They are slow swimmers and surface regularly to breathe.

Physical description and biology: manatees have robust bodies with paddle-like tails, small forelimbs, and a broad, downturned snout adapted for grazing. Adults typically range from about 2 to 4 meters in length and can weigh roughly 400 to 1,500 kilograms. Their diet consists mainly of seagrasses and other aquatic plants. They are long-lived and slow to reproduce; females bear one calf after a lengthy gestation, with calves nursing for an extended period and interbirth intervals often spanning years.

Conservation: major threats include habitat loss, entanglement in fishing gear, boat strikes, pollution, and cold stress. They are protected by national laws and international agreements in many regions, and several populations persist in protected habitats and wildlife refuges. Conservation status varies by species, but all face ongoing pressures and benefit from habitat protection and monitoring efforts.