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Florida Manatee
Trichechus manatus latirostrus

Manatees are herbivorous, feasting daily on vegetation and can eat up to 15% of their body weight. Adult manatee spends 6 to 8 hours eating, and the rest of the day resting or traveling.

Crystal River, Florida

 
Sea Facts:

Manatees, gentle sea mammals, were placed on the Endangered Species List in 1967.  Though they are now protected, watercraft collisions are still the primary source of manatee fatalities.

The Stellar Sea Cow, the largest of all manatees, grew up to 30 feet and weighed 4 tons.  They were hunted to extinction in 27 years.

 

Manatee

 
         
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