Amazonian ManateeTrichechus inunguisWhere and when to see them

The Amazonian manatee is a fully aquatic herbivorous mammal native to the Amazon Basin of South America. It is the smallest of the three living manatee species and the only one restricted to freshwater. Its rounded body, flexible upper lip and paddle-shaped tail are adapted to feeding and moving through rivers and wetlands. By consuming aquatic vegetation and recycling nutrients, it contributes to floodplain ecosystem processes. Hunting, accidental capture in fishing gear and habitat degradation remain important threats.

Size

Up to about 2.8 m long.

Weight

Up to about 450 kg.

Lifespan

Can exceed 30 years in captivity; lifespan in the wild is poorly documented.

Status

Vulnerable (IUCN).

Amazonian manatees are generally solitary or occur in small, loose groups. The strongest social bond is between a mother and her calf, which remains dependent on her for an extended period. They move slowly through the water, propelling themselves with their broad tails and steering with their forelimbs. Although they must surface to breathe, they often expose little more than their nostrils. Their movements follow the Amazon's seasonal flood cycle. During high water, they spread into flooded habitats where vegetation is abundant. As water levels fall, many retreat to deeper lakes and river channels. They can endure prolonged periods of scarce food by drawing on fat reserves accumulated during the feeding season.

• Its scientific name, inunguis, refers to its lack of nails.
• It is the only manatee species restricted to freshwater.
• New molars develop at the back of the jaw and move forward as older teeth wear out.
• Its closest living relatives outside the sirenians include elephants and hyraxes.

Wildlife opportunities depend on the river reach, water levels and species. River-specific viewing months have not been confirmed; general species seasons are not a local sighting forecast.

This species inhabits freshwater rivers, floodplain lakes, channels and seasonally flooded forests across the Amazon Basin. It occurs in Brazil, Peru, Colombia and Ecuador. Sheltered waters with abundant aquatic plants provide important feeding habitat. Seasonal connections between rivers, lakes and flooded forests allow manatees to move between feeding areas and deeper refuges. Maintaining these connections is important for their survival through the annual flood cycle.

Amazonian manatees eat aquatic and floodplain vegetation, including grasses and floating plants. They use a muscular, flexible upper lip to grasp food and bring it into the mouth. Feeding opportunities expand during high water, when rising rivers open access to flooded vegetation. During low water, food can become scarce in the deeper habitats where they take refuge.

Common name

Amazonian Manatee

Scientific name

Trichechus inunguis

Animal group

Mammals

Size

Up to about 2.8 m long.

Weight

Up to about 450 kg.

Lifespan

Can exceed 30 years in captivity; lifespan in the wild is poorly documented.

Status

Vulnerable (IUCN).

Identification

The Amazonian manatee has a rounded, grey to dark-grey body, a small head and a broad, flattened, paddle-shaped tail. Most individuals have a conspicuous white or pinkish patch on the belly or chest, although this is rarely visible from a boat. Unlike the other living manatee species, it lacks nails on its forelimbs. A brief view of nostrils at the surface may be all that is visible, so identification should not depend on seeing the entire animal.