Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis), licensed photograph

Aquatic Life Profile · Aquatic Mammals

Amazonian manatee

Trichechus inunguisLarge dark freshwater herbivore with a rounded paddle tail, flexible muzzle and flippers without nails; often a pale belly patch. Can feed during both daylight and darkness.
Video space reservedRosângela Souza / CC BY 4.0 · Source · CC BY 4.0

Identification

How to recognize amazonian manatee

Use several field marks together. Apparent color, scale, and proportions can change with depth, visibility, lighting, age, posture, and viewing angle.

Field marksLarge dark freshwater herbivore with a rounded paddle tail, flexible muzzle and flippers without nails; often a pale belly patch.
Life stage and viewing conditionsCompare several marks together. Age, sex, lighting and posture can change the appearance; a regional card is not a checklist for every site.

Behavior

What divers may observe

Behavior changes with location, season, life stage, food, reproductive activity, environmental conditions, and human presence.

Observation 1Can feed during both daylight and darkness.Observation 2Remains fully aquatic rather than using terrestrial resting places.

Habitat and range

Where this species lives

Amazon basin.

Vegetated Amazon lakes, oxbows, lagoons and connected freshwater habitat.

Habitat note 1

Habitat: Vegetated Amazon lakes, oxbows, lagoons and connected freshwater habitat.

Habitat note 2

Range: Amazon basin.

Habitat note 3

The regional cards provide starting points for identification. Local depth, season, access and presence must be confirmed before planning an encounter.

Responsible encounters

Observe without changing the animal's behavior

Conditions and local regulations take priority. Follow the operator's briefing, maintain control, and allow wildlife to choose distance and direction.

Let the animal choose its distanceObserve quietly from an authorized viewing position. Do not chase, encircle, touch or feed wild mammals.
Protect rest and family groupsKeep clear of haul-outs, calves and routes between water and land. Never enter the water solely to approach an animal.
Use current local guidanceFollow the protected-species distances, boating rules and guide briefing for the destination; a profile does not authorize an approach.

Connected destinations

Places associated with encounters

These are broad starting points, not guarantees. Seasons, access, animal presence, regulations, and operator schedules change. Confirm current information directly before planning.

Amazon Freshwater

Future connections can lead to destination, dive-site, aquarium, expedition, or operator pages.

Conservation

Status, pressures, and responsible participation

Current profile summaryVulnerable (VU). Global assessment in the IUCN-linked GBIF record checked 29 October 2026; local populations and protections can differ.Legal and conservation status can differ by population and jurisdiction. Review the linked sources for current details.

Conservation note 1

Vulnerable (VU). Global assessment in the IUCN-linked GBIF record checked 29 October 2026; local populations and protections can differ.

Conservation note 2

Local conservation checks should include habitat condition, water quality and any restrictions on collection or disturbance. A global category is not a local abundance estimate.

Conservation note 3

Protect the habitat described above and follow current protection, approach and biosecurity rules at the destination.

Photography and video

Media spaces ready for future contributions

Each approved item can include a description, location, date, contributor credit, and source. Until then, every missing photograph and video remains clearly identified as a placeholder.

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Featured encounter

Primary underwater encounter video

Future media, description, credit, location, and source
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Identification

Close-up identification and field marks

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Natural behavior

Feeding, movement, or social behavior

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Habitat

The species in its natural environment

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Submit photography or video for review →

Sources and verification

Learn more from the source organizations

Species or regional reference ↗NBM Amazon Freshwater aquatic-life ID card ↗Species account — Animal Diversity Web ↗IUCN category relayed by GBIF — checked 29 October 2026 ↗IUCN Red List assessment ↗
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