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Trichechus manatus
Trichechus manatus Linnaeus, 1758
West Indian manatee
Trichechus manatus
photo by Ryan, Paddy

Family:  Trichechidae ()
Max. size:  390 cm TL (male/unsexed); max.weight: 1,590 kg
Environment:  demersal; freshwater; brackish; marine; depth range 0 - 13 m
Distribution:  Western Atlantic: Trichechus manatus manatus: from the coasts and rivers of Mexico to as far south to Rio Doce, Brazil including the Orinoco and Amazon; Trichechus manatus latirostris: from the Florida Peninsula to Rhode Island. Tropical to temperate.
Diagnosis:   
Biology:  Found in coastal marine, brackish and freshwater areas. Feeds on aquatic plants, (i.e. water hyacinths and marine seagrasses, algae, parts of mangrove trees, floating and shoreline vegetation); invertebrates (i.e. tunicates); and fish they remove from fishing nets (Ref. 1394). Found in coastal marine, brackish and freshwater areas (Ref. 1394), where primary habitat consists of rivers, coastal lagoons and bays and mangrove islands (Ref. 86755). Feeds on aquatic plants, (i.e. water hyacinths and marine seagrasses, algae, parts of mangrove trees, floating and shoreline vegetation); invertebrates (i.e. tunicates); and fish they remove from fishing nets (Ref. 1394).
IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable (VU); Date assessed: 30 June 2008 (C1) Ref. 123251)
Threat to humans: 
Country info:   
 

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