MANATEE 



long respectively. The estimated weight of the 12 foot 

 specimen was 2000 pounds. 



Geographical Distribution. — Found along the east coast of 

 Florida as far north as Daytona, and sporadically along the 

 Gulf coast; has been reported from Corpus Christi, Texas. 



Food. — Vegetation found in shallow estuaries and lagoons. 



Enemies. — None, with the possible exception of sharks.. 

 ******* 



Only the one species of Trichechus is found on the conti- 

 nental shores of North America. A related species, T. 

 manatus, is found in the West Indies. 



The Manatee is a harmless, rather sluggish creature which 



Fig. 122. Manatee 



has become so specialized for an aquatic life that it is almost 

 helpless upon the land. It has been said to come out upon 

 the shore sometimes, to feed upon some particularly tempting 

 stretch of grass, but it is difficult to see how such a clumsy 

 creature could progress upon land. The heavy-bodied Mana- 

 tee has lost even the transient relationship with the land which 

 the Seals possess and spends its entire existence in a restricted 

 area of shallow water. 



555 



