There are 4 species of Manatee, one in West Africa, one in the Caribbean from the south-eastern United States to northern South America and one in the estuaries of the Orinoco and the Amazon.

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Overview

Photo by USFWS/SoutheastOrder: Sirenia

Family: Trichechidae

Species: Trichechus manatus

IUCN Status: Vulnerable

Population Trend: decreasing

Length: up to 5m long

Weight: up to 1500 lb

Food: Aquatic plants, especially eelgrass.

Gestation: 152-180 days. Size of baby at birth:

Length: 1 metre, Weight: 60lb

There are 4 species of Manatee; one in West Africa, one in the western tropical Atlantic, one in South America and one in the West Indies.

Read More: Appearance

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