West Indian Manatee

Lore & Background

In the 1970s, the West Indian manatee was listed as endangered in the United States under the Endangered Species Act, when there were only several hundred left. In 2017, the United States changed the classification to threatened, citing a substantial increase in the total population. In 2025, a petition began by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reinstate them as endangered.

Reader's Guide

Manatees are herbivores, feeding on underwater plants. They use highly sensitive whiskers (vibrissae) for feeding and navigation. They have developed vocal communication abilities. In breeding season, several males form mating herds around an individual female; on average, one calf is born every two to three years. Manatees are estimated to live 50 years or more in the wild. They inhabit mostly shallow coastal areas, including rivers and estuaries, and can withstand large changes in salinity. They are limited to warm waters; temperatures below approximately 20 °C (68 °F) increase the risk of cold-induced stress or mortality.

Did You Know?

• The largest individual on record weighed 1,655 kg (3,649 lb) and measured 4.6 m (15 ft) long.
• A captive Florida manatee named Snooty lived for 69 years (1948–2017).
• A captive manatee named Romeo, held at the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park in Fort Walton Beach, was recognized as the world record holder at 71 years of age in February 2026.
• Manatees have a prehensile snout, like their relative the elephant, for grabbing vegetation.