Overview

The West Indian manatee is a gentle giant of warm coastal waters: grey, wrinkled, and propelling itself with a paddle-shaped tail through seagrass beds and spring-fed rivers. Adults can weigh over 500 kilograms but move with unhurried grace, surfacing to breathe with a whistling exhalation.

In winter, manatees congregate in Florida's warm spring runs — Crystal River and Blue Spring are famous — where snorkellers can observe them in clear water. They spend up to eight hours a day grazing, consuming a tenth of their body weight in vegetation.

Habitat

Shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and warm spring systems in Florida and the Caribbean hold manatees. They need water above 20°C and abundant seagrass or freshwater vegetation, and migrate to warm refuges when temperatures drop.

Countries found

Manatee in United States

Interesting facts

01
Manatees graze on seagrass for up to 8 hours a day.
02
They have no natural predators as adults — boats are their main threat.
03
Manatees replace worn teeth throughout their lives — new ones grow at the back.

Conservation status

VU — Vulnerable

West Indian manatees are Vulnerable, with Florida's population recovering after decades of protection but still threatened by boat strikes, red tide, and habitat loss. They remain one of the most beloved conservation symbols in the US.