Everything You Need to Know About Manatees

Would you like to learn more about manatees? Have you heard about manatees? Manatees are one of my favorite animals, so I thought I would share some information with you.

What do Manatees Look Like?

Manatees are large, grey animals that live in salt water oceans and fresh-water rivers.

Different Kinds of Manatees

According to www.savethemanatees.org, "The West Indian manatee is related to the West African manatee, the Amazonian manatee, the dugong, and to the Steller's sea cow, which was hunted to extinction in 1768."

There is also the Florida manatee.

Their Habitat

Manatees love the salt water, so you will find them in the ocean and living in some rivers. Since they are migratory, they move frequently. Manatees can be found in Florida (in the winter time), and in some states such as Georgia, Alabama and South Carolina in the summer.

Behavior

Manatees are gentle creatures that need to come up to the surface 3-5 minutes. However, when manatees are resting or sleeping, they can stay under water for up to twenty minutes.

Manatees are known to travel, eat and rest. They do not cause harm to animals or humans.

Food

Manatees are herbivores, or more commonly known as plant eaters. They eat different kinds of grass that are found in the water. Manatees also love water lettuce, and eel grass.

Weight and Height

Manatees are gentle giants- they would never hurt anyone. They are also huge creatures, and can weigh between 800-1,200 pounds. Most adult manatees can be 9.8 feet long.

Reproduction of Manatees

Manatees do not give birth often, but when they do, it is a miracle. The male manatees do not take care of their young- the mothers care for them for 1-2 years, and then they are on their own.

Dangers to Manatees

One danger to every manatee is boats. Boats are dangerous to manatees because of their propellers. Their propellers cause injury to manatees, causing numerous manatees to have scars on their backs and fins. Boats can also kill manatees.

Littering. Litter is dangerous to any kind of creature. When people throw things in the ocean, manatees can accidentally consume them, causing them to have problems.