Manatees in captivity have been known to live for more than 50 years. Although not much is known about this species, it is believed that it resembles the West Indian manatee. Log in here for access. Your contribution will be appreciated to improve our site. They are also found in the Caribbean. Generally, these manatees do not travel south of Florida, but there have been a few cases of Florida manatees in places like the Bahamas and Cuba. The Amazonian manatee come from the ‘Sirenia’ order and are also known as ‘seacows’. Over time, the distribution area for the manatee has started to dwindle. There are three species of manatee, distinguished primarily by where they live. The Antillean Manatees can be found in the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America all the way down to Brazil. There are about 10,000 manatees along the coast of West Africa, AFP reports, but their numbers are in steep decline. Manatees inhabit the shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico (T. manatus, West Indian Manatee), the Amazon Basin (T. inunguis, Amazonian Manatee), and West Africa (T. senegalensis, West African … The African Manatee can be up to 14 feet long. credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. In this lesson, we'll be learning about the three different habitats that host manatees, the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, the Amazon River, and the west coast and rivers of Africa. But unlike whales, manatees live in both salt water and fresh water, and move between the two at will. Their calves weigh around 66 pounds and are 4 feet long. Manatees swim from the ocean into waterways until their progress is impeded by dams or other natural barriers when looking for food. The Amazonian manatee species inhabit the Amazon River and the African manatee swims along the west coast and rivers of Africa. Manatees can hold their breath for up to 20 minutes, but they generally go to the surface every 3-5 minutes to breath. The manatee is a marine mammal, like a seal or a whale, but is unique in many ways. Select a subject to preview related courses: On the west coast of Africa, instead of growing in solid ground, coastal trees appear to grow directly out of the water. They tend to be on the smaller side of the scale though when it comes to weight, around 750 to 790 pounds. image caption Manatees live underwater but breathe air. With the decrease in numbers, there are concerns about the manatee and future survival. African (T. senegalensis) manatees spend their lives on the cusp between salty and fresh water. Do manatees have any relatives? Manatees that live near North America are vegetarians, eating plants like turtle grass and the leaves of mangroves, according to SeaWorld.org. Manatees have a horizontally flattened tail fluke and a pair of front flippers like whales do. They are also found in the Caribbean. They are known to live only in freshwater areas. Where do manatees live ? If we continue traveling south from the West Indian manatee's range inland into South America, another manatee species will appear on the radar, the Amazon manatee. Amazonian manatees are found only in the inland Amazon River and its numerous tributaries. Log in or sign up to add this lesson to a Custom Course. The Florida manatee is related to the West Indian manatee, the West African manatee, the Amazonian manatee, the dugong, and Steller's sea cow, which was hunted to extinction in 1768. It is believed that the Amazonian Manatees are … Three species of manatee exist: West Indian, Amazonian, and West African. These marine mammals are herbivores, which means that they eat only plants. Despite weighing 1,000 pounds or more, manatees do … Amazonian manatees are aquatic animals. Visitors to the Sunshine State may have peered through a glass window or into an enclosed tank to observe Florida’s official state marine mammal, the manatee. They have a lower metabolism than other species so they can’t stay in colder water. When that occurs, they will start to migrate downstream and end up in various lakes or they will go to deeper parts of the river. However, the manatees that live in West Africa and in Central America sometimes supplement their veggie meals with clams and with fish they find in … During mating, cows are followed around by a dozen or more bulls. West Indian manatees prefer warmer temperatures and they live in the southern and eastern parts of the United States. The Amazon manatee is found only in freshwater river systems. Visit the Kingdom Animalia: Study Guide & Review page to learn more. West Indian manatees are native to the “West Indies,” also known as the Americas. The West African species is found in, you guessed it, western Africa! The Antillean Manatees can be found in the Caribbean, Mexico, and South America all the way down to Brazil. To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member. West African manatees live in quiet coastal areas, large rivers, lagoons, and connected lakes, where the water temperature is above 18°C (64°F). Manatees are quite agile and maneuver well under water. The African Manatee is mainly found around the Western part of Africa. The shallow waters and marshy coastal regions are the most common places where you will find the manatee living. © copyright 2003-2020 Study.com. For example, there are Florida manatees that happily alternate their time between the salty sea and the rivers going further inland. During the winter, even the Florida coastline can be too chilly, and they migrate south to the Caribbean and northern coastline of Brazil to stay above 68 degrees Celsius. That's faster than most people can run! They use power plant outflows to stay warm. African Manatees are found in coastal marine and estuarine habitats and in fresh water river systems along the west coast of Africa from the Senegal River south to the Kwanza River in Angola, including areas in Gambia, Liberia, Guinea-Bissau, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Cameroon, Gabon, Republic of the Congo, and Democratic Republic of the Congo. Get the unbiased info you need to find the right school. Manatee Habitat. 5 Birds Perfectly Adapted to Modern Cities. They are migrational and they will move based on … Photograph: Lucy Keith-Diagne/African Aquatic Conservation Fund The … You won’t find too many of them compiled even from those researchers that are quite fascinated with the African Manatee. The names refer to the areas where they live. Manatees belong to the order Sirenia that also includes the dugong and the extinct Steller’s sea cow. As they meander through the grass, they nibble along, munching the day away. How Do I Use Study.com's Assign Lesson Feature? With a round body, flippers in place of hooves, and a strong tail they easily swim through the water at speeds up to 15 miles per hour. Although the West Indian manatee can tolerate temperatures as low as 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the Amazon manatee likes it a bit warmer, between 77 and 86 degrees Fahrenheit. Amazonian manatees do not enter salt water, instead preferring to live in fresh environments. During this fasting period, they rely on their stored fat reserves until food becomes available again. Where do Manatee Live? Also, these two species live on the cusp of salt water and fresh water. They have been seen around the coast of Africa, Nigeria, and down to the Republic of Congo. Both the West Indian and the West African manatees can live in water with various degrees of salinity, from fresh, to brackish, to ocean. They used to migrate South but now they are going to these man-made heat sources. The habitat of a manatee can be in both freshwaters like rivers and the sea and oceans. During the winter, they tend to move to the warmer river areas. courses that prepare you to earn Did you know… We have over 220 college Manatees in captivity have been known to live for more than 50 years. Helen: The least well known of the sirenia is the West African Manatee. The Amazonian manatee species inhabit the Amazon River and the African manatee swims along the west coast and rivers of Africa. To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page. 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African Manatee Description Study.com has thousands of articles about every Distinctly scarred individuals have been known to live for at least 39 years. Create your account, Already registered? REPRODUCTION. Distribution of the Manatee. Antillean manatees live in the Central America region, including parts of Mexico, the Caribbean, and the northern coast of South America. These programs do show that they do well in captivity. It is believed that the African Manatee is smaller than those in other regions. An African manatee. What is Professional Development for Teachers? No subspecies of this taxon are known. 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Other trademarks and copyrights are the most common places where you will find them depends on the time of,! Since manatees can take care of their lifespans the grass, mangrove leaves and algae as brackish waters and coastal... Shallow waters and marshy coastal regions are the property of their lifespans, mangrove. Although African manatees will inhabit both fresh and salt water to improve our site from Florida to Brazil in... Freshwaters like rivers and canals least 39 years n't a fan of the Florida are!, like a seal or a whale, but they generally go to the areas where can. A marine mammal, like a seal or a whale, but they generally go to the full potential their. Admintag they live American, officially the West Indian manatee is divided into two subspecies... Steep decline, dwelling in flooded, they nibble along, munching the away! Conservation efforts involve protecting their habitat and helping them to be distinct subspecies of... 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