Antillean Manatee
Trichechus manatus
18.1088, -67.1912
Field Notes
Description:
I was taking some pictures of Hawkbill turtles when this friendly giant almost body slams me while trying to investigate me. I followed him for like 30 min . He was so curious about me he pushed me a couple of times (gently) and he went belly up super close to me like looking for a belly rub like a puppy. He got bored of me so he swam to shore to where the people was. Almost everyone got scared( ignorance), but a few kids did not. The manatee sat in hes tail and just stayed looking at the kids for like 10 min. The kids did not harassed the manatee at all! When he got bored with the kids he just gently swam away.
Habitat:
West coast of Puerto Rico
Notes:
They use their fins as foot to walk underwater and to take food into their mouth. One can hear them chewing their food underwater.
Comments (5)