HOW BIG DO MANATEES GET?
Manatees can grow to be quite large. The average adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds. However, they can grow to be much larger than that. The largest manatee on record was 13 feet long and weighed over 3,500 pounds.
HOW MUCH DOES A BABY MANATEE WEIGH?
A baby manatee, also known as a calf, weighs about 60-70 pounds at birth. They are born tail first and nurse underwater from their mothers for about two years. Calves are born after a gestation period of about 12 months.
HOW MANY MANATEES ARE IN FLORIDA?
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC)’s third study, published in 2023, Florida has an estimated 8,350 to 11,730 manatees. This number is based on aerial surveys conducted in 2021 and 2022. The FWC also reports that the manatee population has been increasing in recent years. In 2017, the estimated population was only 6,342.
HOW MANY YEARS DO MANATEES LIVE?
Manatees can live for 50 to 60 years in the wild. The oldest known manatee was 69 years old when she died in captivity.
WHERE DO MANATEES LIVE?
Manatees are large, slow-moving mammals that live in warm, shallow waters. They are found in three main areas of the world:
- The Caribbean. The West Indian manatee is found in the Caribbean Sea, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Bahamas, and the Greater Antilles.
- West Africa. The West African manatee is found along the coast of West Africa, from Senegal to Angola.
- The Amazon River. The Amazonian manatee is found in the Amazon River basin, in Brazil.
Manatees are herbivores, consuming various plants, including seagrass, algae, and aquatic vegetation. They need warm water to survive and cannot tolerate temperatures below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. In the winter, manatees in Florida often migrate to warm water springs and discharge canals.
Manatees are docile, placid creatures. They are an essential part of the ecosystem and play a role in controlling the growth of aquatic vegetation. However, they are also vulnerable to numerous threats, including boat strikes, habitat loss, and pollution. It is important to do our part to protect these gentle creatures.
WHAT ARE MANATEES RELATED TO?
Around 50 to 60 million years ago, manatees descended from a four-foot animal and lived in the sea. Today, the closest living relative to a manatee is an elephant.
WHAT DO MANATEES EAT?
As herbivores, manatees eat various plants, including seagrass, algae, and aquatic vegetation. They use their lips to grasp the plants and then use their teeth to tear them off. They can eat up to 100 pounds of food per day.
Some of the most common foods that manatees eat include:
- Seagrasses
- Algae
- Water lilies
- Hydrilla
- Sagittaria
- Pistia stratiotes
- Eichhornia crassipes
- Azolla filiculoides
- Myriophyllum
- Vallisneria
Manatees are very important to the ecosystem because they help to control the growth of aquatic vegetation. They also help to distribute seeds and nutrients throughout the water.
