Manatees (Trichechus manatus manatus) are herbivorous mammals with opportunistic habits that feed on 

approximately 60 species of plants. The focus of this paper was to identify diet elements of the manatee 

by fecal analysis in two sites in Mexico (Jonuta, Tabasco and Bahía de la Ascensión, Quintana Roo) and 

one site in Belize (Southern Lagoon). Samples were obtained from wild manatees and captive manatees 

temporarily captured for health assessment and sampling during 2004-2006. A total of 24 samples were 

analyzed. Diet components were assessed by microhistological analysis of feces. Items were separated and 

compared with bibliography and histological collections. Samples were also analyzed to detect invertebra-tes. Vegetal species found included Thalassia testudinum, Rhizophora mangle, Halodule wrightii, Ruppia 

sp. and Panicum sp., the latter confirmed for the first time for Mexico. No evidence of invertebrates was 

found in the samples. Relative importance of vegetal species consumed by manatees  coincides with the 

findings reported for other areas in the Americas. Further systematic sampling efforts are needed in areas 

where manatee diet items are unknown.

Keywords: Manatee, diet, feces, microhistological analysis.

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