West Indian Manatee

Name: West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus)

Physical and Behavioral Description: Though West Indian Manatees are large animals, they lack a thick layer of insulating body fat and have an extremely low metabolic rate. However, they are surprisingly agile in the water. They are not territorial and do not have a complex avoidance behavior since they have evolved in areas without natural predators. Manatees mostly eat plants, but they also eat small fish and invertebrates. They also eat other manatees' feces in order to gain information about reproductive status or dominance. Their behavior suggests that they rely on pheromonal communication to sense chemical indicators such as estrogen to aid in reproduction.

Primary Freshwater Habit: Shallow rivers and estuaries 

Diet: Manatees feed on about 60 plant species, including sea grasses, which are their primary food source. But, as aforementioned, there's also fish, invertebrates, and manatee poop.

Major Threats: Most manatee casualties result from thermal shock due to cold temperatures, which can cause their digestive tracts to shut down, and collisions with boats. Illegal poaching and red tide are also contributing threats.

I chose to research this organism because manatees are so dang adorable! I was already drawn in by their cuteness and gentle demeanor, but I wanted to learn more in depth about their behavior.