Manatees

Florida's tropical waters are home to a great diversity of life and perhaps none are more rare and endearing than the manatee. These animals spend most of their time feeding (six to eight hours per day) and resting (two to twelve hours per day). In addition to Florida, all living manatee species can be found doing these things in warm tropical and subtropical waters in North America, South America, and West Africa as well.

Threats
Populations of all species of manatees have apparently declined over the past hundred years. These declines are due to such causes as hunting for their meat, destruction of their habitats, boating, pollution, and low reproduction rates. However, many organizations like SeaWorld are working hard to help restore the population of this great animal.

Habitat
Half a manatee's day is spent sleeping in the water, surfacing for air regularly at intervals no greater than 20 minutes. Manatees spend most of the rest of the time grazing in shallow waters at depths of 1–2 metres (3.3–6.6 ft). The Florida subspecies (T. m. latirostris) has been known to live up to 60 years.

Manatees inhabit the shallow, marshy coastal areas and rivers of the Caribbean sea and the Gulf of Mexico. the Amazon basin, and West Africa