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Trichechidae - manatees

ManateeThere are three species in this family, the Amazonian manatee, the West Indian manatee, and the African manatee. The Amazonian manatee is found in lakes and lagoons in South America. The West Indian manatee is found in coastal waters and in rivers, bays, lakes, estuaries, and canals. It is found in the southern United States, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. The African manatee is found in coastal wasters and freshwater rivers in Western Africa. Manatees are 10-13 feet in length and have broad heads with big upper lips with short whiskers; small eyes; a large, flat, round paddle-like tails; and large front flippers. They have no hind flippers or external ears. Manatees can stay under water for as long a 15 minutes! Manatees are herbivores. They spend about five hours a day eating aquatic plants. An adult manatee eats as much as 60 to 100 pounds of vegetation a day!

Endangered in NH Endangered in NH

Threatened in NH Threatened in NH

introduced Introduced

Endangered in the US Endangered in US

Threatened in the US Threatened in US

 


  New Hampshire Species    North/Central American Species
   

West Indian Manatee Endangered in the US