Manatees: Gentle giants of the water – 38 facts about manatees in Florida

Did you know that manatees are gentle giants of the water? These fascinating creatures can weigh up to 1,500 pounds and grow up to 3 meters long.

They are one of Florida’s most popular animals and play an important role in their environment. Here are 38 facts about manatees in Florida that you probably don’t know.

38 facts about manatees (sea cows) in Florida

1. The West Indian manatee is a large, slow-moving, herbivorous marine mammal with flippers and a tail that resembles that of a whale.
2. Manatees are usually gray or brown in color.
3. They average 3 meters in length and can weigh up to 3,000 pounds.
4. Although they are gentle giants, manatees can be aggressive when threatened.
5. Manatees are found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals and coastal areas in the southeastern United States and the Caribbean.
6. In Florida, they are most commonly found in the springs (warm springs) during the winter months, as the necessary temperature is always constant here. My tip: the Blue Spring State Park.
7. Manatees are migratory animals and move to different areas depending on the season.
8. In winter, they migrate to inland waters to find warmer temperatures.
9. In the summer months, they migrate to coastal areas where they can mate and give birth.
10. Manatees have no natural predators, but humans are their biggest threat.
11. Collisions with boats, pollution, habitat loss and entanglement in fishing gear are some of the threats they face.
12. Because of these threats, the West Indian manatee is classified as an endangered species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).
13. There are an estimated 6,000 to 7,000 manatees living in the wild today.
14. Although they are large animals, manatees have a very slow metabolism and can only hold their breath for about 20 minutes at a time.
15. To keep warm in the cold water, they have to surface every few minutes to breathe.
16. When resting, manatees often float motionless on the surface of the water with only their nostrils and eyes peeking out.
17. These animals are gentle giants, but they are also known to be very curious and approach people who enter their waters.
18. Manatees are social creatures and live in groups called herds.
19. However, they are not known to form long-term bonds and often change herds in the course of their lives.
20. Manatees are mainly herbivores and feed on a variety of aquatic plants.
21. They have been known to eat up to 150 pounds of plants per day!
22. They do have teeth, but they are not very sharp and are used for crushing rather than anything else.
23. As manatees get older, their teeth wear down and eventually fall out, so they have to rely on their lips to pluck food from the ocean floor.
24. Manatees give birth to a single calf every two to five years after a gestation period of about 12 months.
25. Cows often stay close to their calves for up to two years to ensure their survival.
26. Manatee calves are born tail-first and weigh between 60 and 70 pounds at birth.
27. They are about one meter long and have little hair on their bodies.
28. The only hair manatees have are the tips of their flippers, which they use to sense their surroundings.
29. Manatees are slow animals, but they are also good swimmers and can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour in short bursts.
30. Although they spend most of their time in the water, manatees must surface every few minutes to breathe air through their nostrils.
31. When they sleep, they often float motionless on the surface of the water, with only their nostrils and eyes protruding.
32. Manatees are very curious creatures and have been known to approach humans who enter their waters.
33. Although they are gentle giants, manatees can be aggressive if they feel threatened.
34. When two male manatees encounter each other, a violent fight sometimes ensues, which can result in serious injury or even death.
35. Female manatees are not as aggressive, but will still fight if necessary to protect their calves.
36. It is thought that manatees can live for 60 years or more, but due to the many threats they face, most only live to be around 30 years old.
37. The oldest recorded manatee was a female named Snooty, who was born in 1948 and lived to be 69 years old.
38. Snooty was the first manatee born in captivity and also the longest living manatee in captivity.

Conclusion: The friendly giants are fascinating

Florida is a place that has a lot of beautiful things to offer. There are so many great things, but it’s also one little thing that always makes me happy to visit this state every year? The manatees!

I hope you learned something new from reading my blog post today – see you in Florida, Alex

FAQ about manatees

How long does a manatee live?

Manatees have a life expectancy of around 60 years and are gentle giants that often approach humans who enter their waters. As they age, their teeth wear down and eventually fall out, so they rely on their lips to pluck food from the sea floor.

How many calves does a manatee have at one time?

Manatees give birth to a single calf every two to five years after a gestation period of about 12 months, and the cows often stay close to their calves for up to two years to ensure their survival.

How fast can a manatee swim?

Manatees are slow creatures, but they are also good swimmers and can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour in short bursts. Although they spend most of their time in the water, manatees must surface every few minutes to breathe air through their nostrils.

What do manatees eat?

Manatees are herbivores and eat a variety of aquatic plants. They have been known to eat up to 150 pounds of plants per day! They do have teeth, but they are not very sharp and are used for crushing rather than anything else.

What are the different threats to manatees?

There are a number of threats to manatees, such as collisions with boats, habitat destruction, entanglement in fishing gear and injury from propellers. They are also vulnerable to cold snaps and have been known to die as a result. Manatees are also threatened by red tide, a type of algae that produces toxins that can kill the animals.