The West Indian manatee, also known as the North American manatee, is a large, aquatic mammal native to warm coastal areas of the Caribbean, from the eastern US to northern Brazil. Living alone or in herds, it feeds on underwater plants and uses its whiskers to navigate. Despite their populations peaking from November to April (the height December-February), we were very lucky to have seen one slowly swim into view within a few feet from our boat. It was early October.