Creature Feature #445: Manatee

The Manatee are large, fully aquatic mammals belong to the Order Sirenia. Her vegetarian diet gives her the alternative name of "sea cow". There are several species, including this Amazonian Manatee. Unlike the other species, she leads an almost entirely freshwater lifestyle, occupying the rivers, lakes and lagoons of the Amazon river basin. She is solitary in nature, although will sometimes gather with others to graze on water plants. Her digestive system is similar to that of the horse and she eats 8% of her body weight per day. She sleeps submerged, surfacing every 20 mins or so to breathe.

She is classified as Vulnerable due to hunting, pollution (such as oil spoils), and climate change. Captive Manatees live around 13 years, whereas in the wild she can live to be 30.