71 and All His Teeth: Romeo Is Officially the Oldest Manatee on Record

Guinness World Records has confirmed: Romeo is now the oldest known manatee. A title previously held by a certain Snooty, who tragically died in 2017 at the age of 69.

A remarkable longevity

Although some individuals can push past six decades, manatees are generally not believed to live beyond about 40 years in the wild. This makes Romeo’s recently established record all the more impressive.

Born in the Florida Gulf, he was captured near Miami in 1957. At the time, his age was estimated to be between 2 and 5 years old. While it is likely that he is actually closer to 75, Guinness’ cautious estimate places him at 71 years old in 2026.

This rather stout male spent a large portion of his life at the Miami Seaquarium, where he shared his pool with a female named Mabel, who was later renamed Juliette, with whom he fathered nine offspring, the first of which is said to have been the very first manatee conceived and born in captivity. Today, this lettuce-loving senior, famed for his good-natured temperament, enjoys peaceful days at the Gulfarium Marine Adventure Park on Florida’s Okaloosa Island.

Say hello to Romeo, the world’s oldest manatee!
Romeo resides at the Gulfarium on Okaloosa Island, Destin/Fort Walton Beach, Florida and is at least 71 years old. pic.twitter.com/IEOoH2INd9

— Guinness World Records (@GWR) March 25, 2026

« Many of us who have worked in manatee conservation have repeatedly been amazed by Romeo. He has taught us so much about this species (Trichechus manatus), manatee reproduction, their longevity, and how to care for them », said Terri Calleson, head of Florida’s manatee recovery program.

Vulnerable animals

Affectionately nicknamed “sea cows,” manatees roam warm coastal waters and marine estuaries. They can measure up to four meters in length and weigh over 500 kg; these gentle giants with peaceful temperaments feed on aquatic plants.

Today there are three recognized species: the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis), the Caribbean manatee (Trichechus manatus), and the West African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis). While the first two are listed as vulnerable by the IUCN, the third—threatened by fishing, pollution, and habitat loss—has now been classified as “endangered.”

These aquatic mammals belong to the order Sirenia, which counted five representatives, before the disappearance of Steller’s sea cow, only 27 years after its discovery.