Manatee
Facts
- DESCRIPTION :
Large, seal-like body that tapers to a powerful flat tail. Two agile forelimbs with three to four toenails on each, which act like arms to help the manatee maneuver in shallow water, grasp and move food toward their mouths, and act like flippers during swimming. Thick and wrinkled skin with a rough texture - a bit jiggly under the neck and arms. Their skin reacts to touch, as their bodies are very muscular - contracting and changing shape slightly when scratched or tickled. Powerful upper lips which articulate to help maneuver food or dig through sediment. - SIZE :
Average 9 to 10 feet long, weighing around 1,000 lbs.. Can grow as large as 13 feet and weigh more than 3,000 lbs. Calves are born weighing about 40 lbs, gaining about 700 lbs. during their first year. - BEHAVIOR :
Gentle and slow-moving. Most of the time is spent eating vegetation (100-150 lbs. per day), resting, and traveling. On average manatees can travel about 40 to 50 miles a day, sometimes farther. Chessie, the famed manatee rescued from the cold waters of the Chesapeake Bay and returned to Florida, was tagged with a locating device which showed he traveled as far as Rhode Island during hot summer months. - SIGHT :
Some people believe Manatees are nearsighted, or may have limited depth perception. It is believed that they can differentiate between colors. It is unclear how manatees navigate in pitch black or murky waters - when their eyesight would be of no use. They do have sparse body hair over their bodies, and thick whiskers on their faces. It is not clear if this aids in navigation. One expert is convinced, however, that they know exactly where swimmers are, even in blackout conditions. - HEARING :
Manatees can hear very well despite the absence of external ear lobes. They are not believed to have the capabilities of echolocation. - COMMUNICATIONS :
Emit sounds that are within human auditory range. They make sounds such as squeaks and squeals when frightened, playing, or communicating, particularly between cow and calf. No air is released from the manatee when these sounds are made, and it is not clear where the sounds are being produced or if they serve any other purpose. - BREATHING :
Manatees are mammals and breath air through their noses at the surface - with nostrils which close tightly when submerged. They breath every few minutes when active or swimming, and every 10 to 15 minutes when resting. They are capable of exchanging 98% of their lungs capacity in one breath. Their lungs are very large, and are also used for buoyancy control. The rushing sound of a deep exhale and breath sound much like a snorkeler. This sound, and the associated "footprint" left by the manatees tail and body at the surface are clues which reveal the presence of manatees in the area. - HABITAT AND FOOD :
Manatees are found in coastal waterways, estuaries, saltwater bays, rivers and canals, particularly where sea grass beds are located. Manatees are completely herbivorous and can eat 10-15% of their body weight daily. In captivity they are fed lettuce and other greens, and given elephant vitamins. - REPRODUCTION : Females mature around 5 to 9 years of age, and males not until 6 to 9 years of age. It is believed that one calf is born every 2 to 5 years. Twins are rare in the wild. Gestation period is around 13 months. Newborns weigh approximately 40 pounds at birth and stay with the mother for several years.