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SPECIES PROFILE
West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus)
Trichechus
IUCN STATUS
Vulnerable
CONSERVATION STATUS
Vulnerable
CLASS
Mammalia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Caribbean and Gulf coasts from the US to Brazil; Belize has one of the highest concentrations of West Indian Manatees in the Caribbean
DIET
Herbivore
HABITAT
Shallow coastal waters, lagoons, rivers, and seagrass beds; requires warm water and access to freshwater for drinking
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Mammalia
ORDER
Sirenia
FAMILY
Trichechidae
GENUS
Trichechus
📋 Description
SIZE
2.7–3.9 m; 400–600 kg
COLORATION
Rotund grey body with sparse bristly hairs; paddle-shaped tail; small close-set eyes; whiskered flexible upper lip; wrinkled grey skin
ADAPTATIONS
Replaces all teeth continuously throughout life; can hold breath for 20 minutes; grazes seagrass beds like an aquatic cow; uses flippers to "walk" on the sea floor
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Shallow coastal waters, lagoons, rivers, and seagrass beds; requires warm water and access to freshwater for drinking
DIET
Herbivore
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Caribbean and Gulf coasts from the US to Brazil; Belize has one of the highest concentrations of West Indian Manatees in the Caribbean
REPRODUCTION
Single calf born after 12-month gestation; nurses for 1–2 years; female reproduces every 2–5 years; low reproductive rate
DIET DETAILS
Seagrasses and aquatic plants consumed at 10% of body weight daily; critical for maintaining seagrass bed health
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Boat strikes leaving characteristic propeller scar patterns; entanglement in fishing gear; habitat loss of seagrass beds; red tide events
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Belize has one of the highest densities of West Indian Manatees in the Caribbean, protected by the Coastal Zone Management Authority; the Gales Point community has built its economy around manatee ecotourism.
2
Manatees produce an extraordinary range of vocalisations for communication — chirps, whistles, and squeaks used between mothers and calves — all at frequencies largely inaudible to humans without hydrophones.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary near Belize City is the most accessible manatee watching site in Belize
Gales Point Manatee near Dangriga has the largest West Indian Manatee aggregation in Belize in the Southern Lagoon
Placencia Lagoon near Placencia village is a southern Belize manatee habitat accessible by kayak and boat
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
Year-round at Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary; snorkelling tours from Belize City pass aggregation areas where manatees graze seagrass beds.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Year-round. Swallow Caye Wildlife Sanctuary near Belize City and the Southern Lagoon near Gales Point are the most reliable manatee watching sites.
🏨 Where to Stay
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