The manatee is a mammal belonging to the order Sirenia. Within the reserve and for the protection and the specific conservation of Trichechus manatus latirostris, the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge was founded in 1983. It is a sanctuary within the reserve whose mission is to conserve the last pristine natural habitat at the head of river. The refuge protects the warm water springs that provide the essential habitat for populations of this species that are in serious danger of extinction.
