Antillean manatee

The Antillean manatee (Trichechus manatus manatus) is a large, slow-moving aquatic mammal found in the tropical and subtropical Atlantic coasts and associated inland waters, including the Caribbean islands. These mammals are dull gray, blackish, or brown, with stout, tapered bodies and flat, rounded tails used for propulsion. They have flippers for forelimbs and no hind limbs.1

Antillean manatees are a subspecies of the West Indian manatee and are distinguishable by cranial measurements. They are similar in size to the Florida manatee, typically growing to around 3 meters (10 feet) and weighing up to 1,655 kg (3,650 pounds).1

Manatees are herbivores, feeding on aquatic plants. They have long intestines to digest this low-energy food and continuously growing molars to cope with abrasion from sand and silica. All manatee species are classified as Vulnerable Species.1