Northeast Gulf Science 7(1): 1-28. 8 tabs. 15 figs. July 31, 1984.

–An earlier version of this paper was publ. in J.M. Packard (1983c: 1-68), with a different fig. 4 and an additional fig. ("Fig. 6") included. Reviews historical and recent records of T. manatus, including aerial survey and carcass salvage data, emphasizing the southern Big Bend coast of northwestern peninsular Florida. Numbers of manatees have decreased in Texas but increased in the northeastern Gulf. The influences of temperature, sources of warm and fresh water, and food on manatee seasonal movements in the area are discussed, and used to explain the patterns of manatee use of different rivers in the Big Bend area and the increase in manatee population of this area compared with other parts of Florida. Concludes that the southern Big Bend coast offers the best long-term hope for manatee survival in the USA.