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Trichechus manatus
The average West Indian Manatee is approximately 3 meters long or average of 10 feet, and weighs between 400 and 600 kg or on average 800 to 1200 pounds, with females generally larger than males.
As its name implies, the West Indian manatee lives in the West Indies, or Caribbean, generally in shallow coastal areas. However, it is known to withstand large changes in water salinity, and so has also been found in shallow rivers and estuaries. They can live in fresh water,saline water, andeven brackish water.It is limited to the tropics and subtropics due to an extremely low metabolic rate and lack of a thick layer of insulating body fat. In the winter, West Indian Manatees can be found in Florida. During summer, these large mammals have even been found as far north as New York City, New York and as far south as Texas.
I spotted this manatee in the Botanical Gardens in Georgetown. I don't like posting spottings of animals not in their native habitat but these animals were being studied at the gardens and it was not zoo like at all, there was no admission fee and they place was pratically deserted. Manatees are extremely rare in most of their natural range and considered endangered. This one was very hungry and gladly at out of my hand. I could have fed it all day long. I have searched for them in the wild with out any luck. Just ripples on the surface.
Spotted on Mar 1, 2011
Submitted on Jul 9, 2011
16 Comments
Great news Karen, thanks.
Congrats Dan, your spotting is featured in the Project Noah blog http://blog.projectnoah.org/post/4641997...
Well I was really little I saw one while we were at a restaurant in the water going by, but I would really like to go see them again. I always worry that they will be gone before I can go see them again.
Thanks. Wow, your favorite animal in the world! You're going to have to make a trip to see them someday in the wild.
I am so jealous! These are my favorite animals in the world. I did a report when I was in grade school and have been smittened ever since.
I added a short video clip to this.
Now I know where to go in Florida if I come looking for manatees, thanks for the detailed comments!
And yet another great place to see manatees like this: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/657... is Manatee Cove on Merrit Island.
http://www.fws.gov/merrittisland/Manatee... Another good place to see them on east coast Florida (I believe it's one of the fresh water outlets); saw a dozen there one afternoon.
Cape Canaveral has some Manatee spotting places as well.
Crystal River, FL has a seasonal visit by the manatees. It is against the law to approach follow or harass them in any way. The river is clear and warm and you can snorkel in the waters with them and if they approach you, you are allowed to touch them, but not to follow them when they swim away. The water is clear enough to see them feeding along the sides of the river. The scientists ID each one by boat prop cut marks and tail gouges on them. In a lot of areas where they are known to be present, there are "no wake zones" posted, but people don't follow the signs and run over these slow moving beauties. "Home of the Manatee" http://www.crystalriverfl.org/
Wow! Four in one morning, that's awesome! Great to hear they are still thriving in some places.
I see manatees frequently in the Indian River in east central Florida.(saw four this morning waiting for the sunrise). Another good place to find them is at natural outflows of fresh water. There are a few such places in Brevard county.
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/674...
Nice series of photos
Thanks for the specific information alice. I knew there were some areas where they were more common but in most of their range they very are difficult to see.
In Florida in the winter they gather in the warmest areas of the state, sometimes near factories that keep the water warm. Usually not hard to see them then.