West Indian Manatee

West Indian manatees are large, slow-moving marine mammals found in shallow coastal waters, estuaries, and rivers from Florida to the Caribbean. These rotund herbivores reach up to 4.5 metres in length and are instantly recognisable by their barrel-shaped body, paddle-like flippers, and whiskered snout. Often encountered resting on the seabed or grazing on seagrass at depths of 1–5 metres, they are vulnerable to boat strikes and habitat loss. Despite their apparent docility, they are listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List.