11 Interesting Facts About the Manatee

With their circular bodies, paddle-like flippers, and round snouts, manatees are quite adorable. Read on to learn more about these aquatic grazers!

1. The Manatee Can Weigh More Than a Horse Does

On average, manatees weigh between 440 to 1,300 pounds. This is more than what a full-grown horse can weigh! They can also reach 8 to 13 feet long—almost the length of a small car. Despite their impressive size, they move through water with grace and ease.

2. They Are Vegetarians

Unsurprisingly, manatees need a generous amount of food to maintain their large figures. It’s been reported that they eat up to a pound of food daily for every 10 pounds of body weight. For an adult manatee, that’s close to 150 pounds of grub!

As herbivores, manatees exclusively consume vegetative matter. Some of their favorite nibbles include shoal grass, mangrove leaves, algae, and other species of aquatic plants.

3. They Constantly Grow New Teeth

Manatees have flat teeth that resemble human molars to grind up seagrass. These teeth are very effective at crushing and digesting vegetation.

Over time, these molars can wear out. To combat this, manatees have a unique dental system where old teeth fall out and are replaced by new ones. Teeth in the back will also move towards the front to replace the more worn-down teeth at the front. This process takes place throughout their whole lives!

4. Manatees Are Mammals

Like dolphins and whales, manatees are marine mammals. Similarly, they do not possess gills and have to frequently surface for air. In a relaxed state, they have been seen sitting on a seabed for up to 15 minutes, but when they are active, they usually need fresh air every 3 to 4 minutes.

As mammals, manatees are warm-blooded and give birth to live offspring. Females have mammary glands that produce milk to nurse their young.

5. Like Cows, Young Manatees are Called Calves

At birth, manatees weigh approximately 60 pounds. As soon as they enter the world, they are capable of swimming and navigating their surroundings. They take 5 to 10 years to reach maturity, and, during this time, they grow remarkably fast. In the beginning, they relay on their mother’s milk and nurse several times a day.

The bond between a young calf and its mother is extremely strong. Mothers will go to great lengths to care for and protect their young. In addition to feeding it, a calf will learn essential survival skills from its mother. Conversely, manatee fathers do not participate much in the rearing of offspring. After mating, they typically depart and contribute little to calf upbringing.

6. Manatees Were Discovered in the mid-1700s

The earliest reports of manatees date back to 1741. Early sailors found them in the waters of the Commander Islands in the Bering Sea. Explorers even mistook these creatures for mythical mermaids due to their fins.

Today, 3 species of manatees exist—Trichechus inunguis, the Amazonian manatee; Trichechus senegalensis, the West African manatee; and Trichechus manatus, the West Indian manatee.

7. They Use Power Plant Waters for Warmth

Manatees have a thick layer of fat beneath their skin to help keep warm. Their blubber also provides buoyancy and helps them float. However, even with their thick insulation, manatees sometimes need to look for warmer environments.

Historically, manatees lived near warm springs, but as habitats were destroyed and human developments expanded natural springs became harder and harder to come by. As a result, manatees have adapted to find man-made sources of warm water. Plants and production facilities release warm waters into nearby ponds, which manatees now frequent for refuge.

8. Females Are Selective with Their Mates

Breeding can take place any time throughout the year, but manatees appear to prefer the spring and summer months. When the time comes, manatees mate through a process called “mating herds”. Multiple males will gather around and follow a female, competing for her attention and acceptance. They will circle the female and nudge her with their snouts to show interest. Eventually, the female will choose a mate from the herd. Her selection is based on the male’s size, strength, or behavior.

9. They are Endangered Animals Protected by Stringent Regulations

According to National Geographic, manatees were the first group of animals protected by the United States Endangered Species Act in 1973. This act protects manatees from being hunted or killed for any reason.

In Florida, residents are not permitted to swim, boat, or fish in areas where manatees reside. As of 2019, it has been reported approximately 7,000 manatees live along the Florida coast. While this number is a significant improvement from the past, many efforts are still being made to protect this recovering population.

10. They Can Live for Decades

Manatees typically live to be around 40 to 60 years old in the wild. Their lifespans are dictated by various factors, including boating accidents, habitat loss, and disease. In captivity, manatees can live to be even older, reaching 65 years of age.

11. Their Lungs Are Used for More Than Breathing

Manatees have evolved an ingenious way of controlling how deep they dive. They adjust the volume of air in their lungs to regulate their depth. Their horizontally positioned lungs keep them parallel to the water’s surface. While humans can only use about 10 percent of their lung capacity, manatees can utilize up to 90 percent of the air in their lungs.