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West Indian Manatee

Trichechus manatus

Mammal · family Trichechidae · order Sirenia

  1. G1
    Critically imperiled
  2. G2
    Imperiled
  3. G3
    Vulnerable
  4. G4
    Apparently secure
  5. G5
    Secure

NatureServe global rank G2: imperiled[2].

Updated October 30, 2026. Published by Humblebee.

Endangered Species Act
Threatened[1]
NatureServe global rank
G2 Imperiled[2]
Native in
9 states[3]
Longest recorded life
69 years[4]

The West Indian Manatee is a plant-eating mammal in the order Sirenia[5]. It is listed as Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act, and in the United States it is native in 9 US states, including Florida, Georgia and Texas[1][3].

Conservation status

The US Endangered Species Act lists the West Indian Manatee as Threatened, and that listing dates to March 11, 1967[1]. NatureServe ranks it G2 (Imperiled) worldwide and N2 (Imperiled) in the United States[2][6]. The IUCN Red List category recorded by NatureServe is Vulnerable[7]. It is also on CITES Appendix I, which sets controls on international trade[8].

Status Value
Endangered Species Act[1] Threatened, listed March 11, 1967
NatureServe global rank[2] G2 (Imperiled)
NatureServe US rank[6] N2 (Imperiled)
IUCN Red List (via NatureServe)[7] Vulnerable
CITES (international trade)[8] Appendix I
Total population (NatureServe estimate)[9] 2500 to 100,000 individuals

Where West Indian Manatee lives

NatureServe lists the West Indian Manatee as native in 9 US states and territories: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas[3]. The federal listing also names Delaware, New Jersey, Virginia, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin Islands in its range[1]. People report it most often in Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina and South Carolina, but those counts follow where people look, not how many animals live there[10].

Alaska: not recordedAKMaine: not recordedMEWisconsin: not recordedWIVermont: not recordedVTNew Hampshire: not recordedNHWashington: not recordedWAIdaho: not recordedIDMontana: not recordedMTNorth Dakota: not recordedNDMinnesota: not recordedMNIllinois: not recordedILMichigan: not recordedMINew York: not recordedNYMassachusetts: not recordedMAOregon: not recordedORNevada: not recordedNVWyoming: not recordedWYSouth Dakota: not recordedSDIowa: not recordedIAIndiana: not recordedINOhio: not recordedOHPennsylvania: not recordedPANew Jersey: not recordedNJConnecticut: not recordedCTRhode Island: not recordedRICalifornia: not recordedCAUtah: not recordedUTColorado: not recordedCONebraska: not recordedNEMissouri: not recordedMOKentucky: not recordedKYWest Virginia: not recordedWVVirginia: not recordedVAMaryland: native, state rank S1NMDDelaware: not recordedDEArizona: not recordedAZNew Mexico: not recordedNMKansas: not recordedKSArkansas: not recordedARTennessee: not recordedTNNorth Carolina: native, state rank S1NNCSouth Carolina: native, state rank SNRSCDistrict of Columbia: not recordedDCOklahoma: not recordedOKLouisiana: native, state rank S2LAMississippi: native, state rank S1NMSAlabama: native, state rank S1ALGeorgia: native, state rank S2GAHawaii: not recordedHITexas: native, state rank S3TXFlorida: native, state rank S2FLPuerto Rico: not recordedPR
State presence as recorded by NatureServe[11].
Show state ranks (9 states)
StateRankMeaning
AlabamaS1Critically Imperiled
FloridaS2Imperiled
GeorgiaS2Imperiled
LouisianaS2Imperiled
MarylandS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
MississippiS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
North CarolinaS1NCritically Imperiled (nonbreeding)
South CarolinaSNRNot Ranked
TexasS3Vulnerable

Habitat

NatureServe records habitats such as rivers, shallow water, bays, lagoons and near-shore waters[12]. The notes say it seems to prefer rivers and estuaries over open marine water[13]. It apparently cannot tolerate long spells in cold water, so in the north it gathers in warmer water bodies from October to April[13].

Habitat types recorded by NatureServe[12]

Size, diet and lifespan

The West Indian Manatee is an herbivore, and its diet is mostly water plants[14][15]. The typical length recorded by NatureServe is 350 cm (138 in) and the typical adult weight is 400 kg (882 lb)[16][17]. A litter is usually 1 young, and gestation lasts 335 days[18][19]. Females reach sexual maturity at 1,278 days[20]. The longest recorded lifespan is 69 years in captivity, which is a record and not a typical lifespan[4].

Trait Value
Typical length[16] 350 cm (138 in)
Typical adult weight[17] 400 kg (882 lb)
Longest recorded lifespan (AnAge)[4] 69 years (captivity)
Litter or clutch size[18] 1
Gestation or incubation[19] 335 days
Female maturity[20] 1,278 days (about 3.5 years)
Food habits[14] Herbivore
Active[21] nocturnal, crepuscular, diurnal
Migration[22] non-migrant, local migrant

Estimated diet composition (EltonTraits 1.0)[23]

  • 100% other plant material

When to look for it

NatureServe lists the migration category as non-migrant, local migrant, and it says populations can differ[22]. In the north, manatees gather in warmer water from October to April[13]. US observation records on GBIF peak in January, February and March, which reflects when people look and report[24].

January: 12,763 recordsJanFebruary: 8,542 recordsFebMarch: 3,755 recordsMarApril: 1,916 recordsAprMay: 1,649 recordsMayJune: 1,568 recordsJunJuly: 1,448 recordsJulAugust: 1,297 recordsAugSeptember: 1,012 recordsSepOctober: 936 recordsOctNovember: 1,377 recordsNovDecember: 2,185 recordsDec
US observation records on GBIF by month, all years. The three months with the most records are highlighted. Records show when people look and report, not how many animals there are[24].
Show records by month
MonthRecords
January12,763
February8,542
March3,755
April1,916
May1,649
June1,568
July1,448
August1,297
September1,012
October936
November1,377
December2,185

Where to see it

This species is protected or at risk, so we show its range only at the state level. We do not publish parks, nesting, spawning or wintering sites.

States with the most GBIF observation records: Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina[10]. These counts follow where people look and report, not population size.

Questions people ask

Is the West Indian Manatee endangered?
It is listed as Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act[1]. NatureServe ranks it Imperiled worldwide[2].
Where does the West Indian Manatee live in the US?
NatureServe lists it as native in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Texas[3].
What does the West Indian Manatee eat?
It is an herbivore that mainly eats water plants[14][15].
How big is a West Indian Manatee?
The typical length recorded is 350 cm (138 in) and the typical adult weight is 400 kg (882 lb)[16][17].
How long does a West Indian Manatee live?
The longest recorded lifespan is 69 years in captivity, which is a record and not a typical lifespan[4].

Facts and sources

  1. Under the US Endangered Species Act, West Indian Manatee has the status Threatened, listed March 11, 1967 (USFWS ECOS). States in the listed range: Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, New Jersey, Puerto... USFWS ECOS
  2. NatureServe global conservation status rank for West Indian Manatee: G2 (Imperiled). NatureServe Explorer
  3. NatureServe lists West Indian Manatee as native in 9 US states and territories: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas. NatureServe Explorer
  4. Maximum recorded lifespan in AnAge: 69 years in captivity. This is a record, not a typical lifespan. AnAge
  5. West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus) is a mammal in the family Trichechidae, order Sirenia. NatureServe Explorer
  6. NatureServe national rank in the United States: N2 (Imperiled). NatureServe Explorer
  7. IUCN Red List category as recorded by NatureServe: Vulnerable. NatureServe Explorer
  8. CITES listing recorded by NatureServe: Appendix I (controls on international trade). NatureServe Explorer
  9. NatureServe estimate of total adult population (global, as a range): 2500 to 100,000 individuals. NatureServe Explorer
  10. US states with the most GBIF observation records of West Indian Manatee: Florida, Louisiana, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina. Record counts follow observer effort, not population size. GBIF
  11. NatureServe state ranks for West Indian Manatee (map and table on this page). NatureServe Explorer
  12. Habitat types NatureServe records for West Indian Manatee: Big river, Medium river, Spring/spring brook, Shallow water, Bay/sound, River mouth/tidal river, Lagoon, Near shore. NatureServe Explorer
  13. NatureServe notes on habitat for West Indian Manatee. NatureServe Explorer
  14. Adult food habits recorded by NatureServe: Herbivore. NatureServe Explorer
  15. NatureServe notes on food for West Indian Manatee. NatureServe Explorer
  16. Typical length recorded by NatureServe: 350 cm (138 in). NatureServe Explorer
  17. Typical adult weight recorded by NatureServe: 400 kg (882 lb). NatureServe Explorer
  18. Typical litter or clutch size in AnAge: 1. AnAge
  19. Gestation or incubation period in AnAge: 335 days. AnAge
  20. Age at female sexual maturity in AnAge: 1,278 days (about 3.5 years). AnAge
  21. Activity time in EltonTraits 1.0: nocturnal, crepuscular, diurnal. EltonTraits 1.0
  22. NatureServe migration category for West Indian Manatee: non-migrant, local migrant (populations can differ). NatureServe Explorer
  23. Estimated diet composition in EltonTraits 1.0: 100% other plant material. EltonTraits 1.0
  24. GBIF observation records of West Indian Manatee in the US by month (chart on this page). GBIF

Status, range and habitat come from NatureServe Explorer (CC BY 4.0) and USFWS ECOS at the snapshot date. Listings change by federal rule. State lists are where NatureServe records the species, not a promise that you will see it there. Never name a place smaller than a state. GBIF and park records count observations and checklists. They show where and when people report the species, not how many animals live there.

NatureServe. 2026. NatureServe Explorer [web application]. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia. Available https://explorer.natureserve.org. (Accessed: October 30, 2026). Licensed under CC BY 4.0; SpeciesFacts selected and summarized it.