Manatee (West Indian)
ClassMammalia
FamilyTrichechidae
Size3-4 m
HabitatCaribbean/Florida/Gulf of Mexico
DietSeagrass, freshwater plants
About the Manatee (West Indian)
Already covered above. The Florida subspecies is the most studied. Cold stress is a major threat - they cannot survive below 20 degrees C. Power plant warm-water outflows have become critical winter habitat. Over 800 died in 2021 alone from starvation due to seagrass die-off. They have no natural predators.
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