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Manatees can live in both saltwater and freshwater. They also use brackish water, where fresh and seawater mix. These aquatic mammals travel through coastal and river habitats, but manatees in marine or estuarine areas still seek separate sources of fresh water to drink.
Manatees use three kinds of water
The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service describes West Indian manatees as living in marine, brackish, and freshwater systems in coastal and riverine areas. Florida manatees likewise move between fresh, saline, and brackish water.
- Freshwater: rivers, springs, lakes, and canals
- Brackish water: estuaries and other places where river water mixes with seawater
- Saltwater: coastal bays and marine areas
That range means calling manatees exclusively “saltwater animals” or “freshwater animals” is misleading. Their habitat can change with location, season, food availability, and local conditions.
Where manatees live
Riverine and freshwater habitats
Manatees use rivers, freshwater lakes, springs, and canals. These areas can provide both shelter and aquatic plants for feeding.
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Coastal and estuarine habitats
They also enter bays, estuaries, and coastal waters. Estuaries are especially important because they connect river and marine environments and offer a mixture of salinities.
Do saltwater manatees drink seawater?
No. Habitat water and drinking water are not the same thing. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s 2024 critical-habitat proposal notice says manatees “seek out sources of fresh drinking water when in marine and estuarine habitats.” A manatee may forage or travel in saltwater, then visit a freshwater source to meet its drinking needs.
What do manatees eat in each habitat?
Manatees are herbivores. They feed on submerged, floating, and emergent aquatic plants in freshwater environments and on marine vegetation such as seagrasses in coastal areas. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service summarizes this broadly: “They feed on freshwater and marine plants, as well as seek out sources of fresh drinking water when in marine and estuarine habitats.”
Food availability helps explain why the same species can use habitats with different salinities; manatees are not restricted to one water type for feeding.
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Why Florida manatees move to warm water
In Florida, water temperature is another major factor in movement. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission reports that manatees seek warm-water refuges when temperatures fall below about 68°F. Natural springs and power-plant outfalls can provide that warmer water.
This temperature behavior is separate from the saltwater-versus-freshwater question. A Florida manatee may seek warm water whether the surrounding habitat is fresh, brackish, or saline.
Freshwater, saltwater, and brackish water at a glance
| Water type | Examples of manatee habitat | How manatees use it |
|---|---|---|
| Freshwater | Rivers, springs, lakes, canals | Travel, shelter, feeding, and access to drinking water |
| Brackish | Estuaries and tidal river mouths | Traveling and feeding where fresh and salt water mix |
| Saltwater | Coastal bays and marine areas | Traveling and foraging, while seeking fresh water to drink |
The accurate answer in one sentence
Manatees are mammals that can live and feed in freshwater, brackish, and saltwater habitats, but those using marine or estuarine areas still need access to fresh water for drinking.
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