The manatee, also known as the sea cow, is the common name used to refer to a family of sirenid mammals, that is, aquatic placental mammals, being the largest aquatic herbivore. It is found within the trichechid family (Trichechidae) and its genus is Trichechus, currently with three species distributed throughout America and Africa, both in fresh and marine waters. They are very peaceful animals and, although they are generally solitary, manatees are very curious and often approach boats. Its only predator is the human being and its mortality is often associated with anthropic activities.
Continue reading this article on our site and you will find out if the manatee is in danger of extinction or not, as well as other characteristics of the species.
Distribution and characteristics of manatees
Manatees have a fusiform body (elongated and ellipsoid shape) and they lack hind limbs Their tail is flat to be used as a oar, the forelimbs are short and flexible and have three or four nails. An adult animal can measure up to 4 m and weigh up to 500 kg. These measurements make the manatee the Largest continental mammal in Latin America
Manatees sleep underwater, surfacing every 20 minutes or so to breathe and forage in the shallows. Their reproductive cycle is quite long and they usually mate only every two years, giving birth to a single young. These animals form a very important part of the aquatic ecosystems where they live, since they contribute to maintaining the balance of the vegetation and, in addition, act as a bioindicator of the he alth and quality of their environment. Likewise, due to their eating habits, manatees are nutrient recyclers, as they transform plant biomass, making it available for a wide variety of aquatic organisms.
Types of manatees and where they live
Currently, there are three species, which are the following:
- Trichechus manatus (Caribbean or Florida manatee): inhabits the Antilles and rivers and estuaries of the Caribbean Sea basin, above all on the coast of the Dominican Republic, a site where there are important reserves and conservation projects for this species, as well as being the first country where protection laws were created for this animal. This species has two subspecies, which are the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) and the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus), which inhabits northeastern South America.
- Trichechus senegalensis (African manatee): this species of manatee is one of those for which the least information exists, since there are not many studies carried out about her. It is known to be distributed in coastal habitats and in estuaries and rivers on the west coast of Africa.
- Trichechus inunguis (Amazonian manatee): inhabits the coasts of South America and the Amazon River and its tributaries, in countries such as Brazil, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, Colombia, Venezuela and in the Guianas area. On the other hand, it can also be seen in the Panama Canal, a place where it was introduced to control the growth of aquatic vegetation in the inter-oceanic route, while it became naturalized. Learn more Amazon Animals in this other article.
Why is the manatee in danger of extinction?
All species are categorized as “vulnerable” at the global level, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). In particular, the named subspecies are in danger of extinction due, for the most part, to anthropic activities, that is, due to human activity Therefore, there are various rescue centers or protected areas where these animals live.
Now, digging a little deeper into the causes of the endangered manatee, we highlight the following:
- Collisions with the boats that navigate the waters where the different species live. Many times those who are not killed immediately are seriously injured. Manatees are slow-moving as they graze and swim in urbanized coastal areas and are prone to boat strikes as they feed and live in shallow (often 1-2 meter) coastal areas. Occasionally, a mother can be injured or killed, leaving many pups alone and not surviving as they cannot nurse.
- Bycatch. Poor fishing practices pose a threat to manatees, often using methods that inadvertently capture these animals and injure or kill them.
- Increasing urbanization in coastal areas. This also leads to the loss of the manatee's habitat, since, as we mentioned, it inhabits shallow coastal areas and often close to human beings, where it comes to graze.
- Illegal hunting and capture. Being a curious, slow and peaceful species, it is often easy for many hunters to catch them for their meat, skin and oil.
- Pollution with toxic or metallic substances mixed with seagrasses are also another cause of the decline of species, since they depend on this vegetation for food and shelter.
Manatee Conservation Status
This animal is listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). In Latin American countries, manatee conservation has been carried out for many years, so there is the Regional Management Plan for the West Indian Manatee, which was updated in 2010 (UNEP). In addition, several countries developed a management and protection plan for manatees at the national and regional levels, taking into account the specificities of the threats against manatees in each country.
In particular, Brazil banned the hunting of the Amazonian manatee in 1973 and US federal law does not allow the hunting, capture, killing or harassment of the Florida manatee. In Florida, manatees are protected thanks to the “ Florida Manatee Sanctuary”. On the other hand, there are various sanctuaries and reserves for manatees in the wild, both in the United States and Mexico, as well as in other countries, such as Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, Honduras and Venezuela. In turn, since 2014 the manatee was declared the new national symbol of Costa Rica and in Mexico, since 2019, Jonuta (in Tabasco) was declared a manatee sanctuary.
Internationally, all sirenids are protected by the protocol of the Cartagena Convention (SPAW), which prohibits capturing, killing, buying or selling manatees, including parts or products made from them.
How to help the endangered manatee?
Now, if you wonder how you can help prevent the species from disappearing, the answer is to inform yourself as much as possible. Now that you know the causes that threaten its existence, try to lead a lifestyle that is as sustainable as possible, recycling and being aware of each product you buy. Likewise, you can always find out in your country to see if there are organizations that work in manatee conservation to try to volunteer.
For more information, don't hesitate to consult our article on How to protect endangered animals.
