Size and weight
Manatees can reach up to about 4.0 metres long and weigh as much as 590 kilograms.
Manatee
Manatees are large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals with paddle-like tails found in shallow coastal and river habitats.
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Last Updated Mar 9, 2026 · 2 sources
Species Guide
What to know about manatees
A clean field guide focused on habitat, identification, behavior, and conservation context without burying the useful parts.
Manatees are large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals in the family Trichechidae. Three accepted living species are the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis), the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), and the West African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis). They can reach about 4.0 metres in length and weigh up to 590 kilograms, and they have paddle-like tails. Manatees feed on freshwater and saltwater plants (over 60 species recorded) and inhabit shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers in regions including the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the Amazon basin, and West Africa. Major causes of death are human-related, notably habitat destruction and collisions with propeller-driven boats and ships; natural causes include adverse temperatures, disease, and predation by crocodiles on young.
Commonly cited pressures include Habitat destruction and Boat and ship collisions.
Herbivorous; consumes over 60 different freshwater and saltwater plants.
Identification
How to identify manatees
The visual markers divers can use underwater, plus the species most likely to cause confusion.
Key identification markers
Body and tail shape
They are large, fully aquatic mammals with paddle-like tails.
Dietary habit
Mostly herbivorous, feeding on a wide variety of freshwater and saltwater plants.
Habit and behavior
Inhabit shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers and are characteristically slow-moving and curious.
Diet
What manatees tend to eat
Useful feeding context that often explains habitat, movement, and encounter style.
Herbivorous; consumes over 60 different freshwater and saltwater plants.
Conservation
What is happening with Manatees
Status, pressure, and protection context grounded in cited sources rather than filler.
Commonly cited pressures include Habitat destruction and Boat and ship collisions.
Main threats
Habitat destruction
Human-driven habitat destruction reduces available shallow, marshy coastal and river habitats used by manatees.
Boat and ship collisions
Slow-moving, curious manatees are vulnerable to violent collisions with propeller-driven boats and ships; many individuals bear propeller scars.
Human objects
Ingestion of or entanglement with human objects contributes to manatee mortality.
Adverse temperatures
Exposure to unfavorable temperatures is a natural cause of death for manatees.
Predation on young
Crocodiles can prey on young manatees.
Disease
Disease is listed as a natural cause of mortality.
Responsible Encounters
How to dive with manatees
Conservation-minded guidance for divers who want the encounter without adding pressure.
Give manatee space, avoid blocking the animal's path, and follow local site and operator rules for wildlife interactions with other mammals.
Field Notes
Interesting things worth knowing
Useful species context that makes the encounter more meaningful once you are underwater.
Field notes
Multiple species
Three accepted living species exist: Amazonian, West Indian, and West African manatees.
Wide plant diet
Manatees eat over 60 different types of freshwater and saltwater plants.
Habitat range
They are found in the Caribbean Sea, the Gulf of Mexico, the Amazon basin, and West Africa.
Boat scars
Some manatees have been recorded with many scars from propeller blades.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Clear planning and conservation answers written for search visibility and AI retrieval.
Research Sources
Manatee information sources
Primary and credible references behind the field-guide and conservation claims on this page.
Sources 2Last Updated
Related Species
More in Other Mammals
Related species guides in the same encounter family.
