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Watch West Indian Manatee Video
The West Indian Manatee is a gentle sea creature that loves to munch on water plants. They are big and round, and they glide gracefully through the water like a big, soft balloon.
Key details
- Length
- 250-400 cm
- Weight
- 400-600 kg
- Lifespan
- 40-60 years
- Top Speed
- 30 km/h
- Litter Size
- 1
- Gestation
- 365-395 days
Traits
SocialFilter FeederHerbivorousCoastalDiurnalAquaticGiantEndangered
What this page adds
The West Indian Manatee has a large, torpedo-shaped body that is typically greyish-brown, often with green algae patches. It features two paddle-like flippers and a broad, flat tail resembling a paddle, making it distinct from dolphins or seals.
Manatees are closely related to elephants, sharing a distant common ancestor!
Manatees have dense bones that help them sink to graze on seagrass beds.
They can eat up to 10% of their body weight in plants every single day!
