| Manatee, Amazonian | |||
| Genus | Trichechus | ||
| Species | inunguis | ||
| Status | Endangered | ||
| Habitat | Ocean | ||
| Distribution | South America (Amazon River basin) | ||
| Length | 13 feet (4.5 meters) | ||
| Weight | 500-2000 pounds (230-900 kg) | ||
| Behavior |
In the winter, manatees move from the salty ocean water into the warm springs that feed freshwater rivers.
Manatees are slow moving animals with few natural predators, except for sharks and humans. They usually swim at about five miles per hour (8 km), but their speed can reach up to 15 miles per hour (24 km) over short distances, if they are being chased. When they move from one feeding place to another, manatees need to come up for air every three or four minutes. But when they are feeding, they stay submerged for nearly fifteen minutes. | ||
| Diet | Plants | ||
| Feeding | Every manatee will eat up to 30 pounds (13 kg) of aquatic plants each day. Its only competitors for food are sea turtles, but they basically have all the food to themselves. | ||
| Breeding | Female manatees are able to start reproducing between the ages of four and eight. They do so slowly, having only one calf at a time. Manatees give birth to their young in the water, and babies stay with their mothers one or two years. | ||
| Sexual Maturity | 4 years | ||
| No. of Young | 1 | ||
| Conservation |
The Amazonian manatee once lived throughout the waters of the southeastern United States, the Caribbean, and South America, but its population has dropped rapidly. It can no longer be found in many parts of its previous range.
The manatee is endangered because of the pollution of coastal waters and motorboat accidents. Motorboats will often pass over these slow-swimming animals and cut them with the propellers. Luckily, new laws are restricting the speed of boats in areas where manatees live. Sanctuaries have also been created to protect them, and rescue units remain on hand to capture injured animals and nurse them back to health. | ||
| Interesting Facts |
The manatee might look like a seal or walrus, but this mammal is not related to either. It is a closer relative to the elephant! Seals, sea lions, and walruses eat fish, clams, and octopuses, but the manatee eats plants.
No other large mammal feeds solely on plants. | ||
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