Time “Manatees Are No Longer Listed as Endangered Species”
What is a Manatee?
Manatees, also known as Sea Cows, are mammals. Their scientific name is Trichechus. Even though they are very bulky, they are very graceful swimmers. Luckily, Manatees are not endangered
What do Manatees eat?
Manatees are Herbivores so they only eat plants. Since Manatees are in both Saltwater and Freshwater there is a variety of food for them. For Saltwater Manatees; seagrass, marine algae, manatee grass, sea clover, shoal grass, turtle grass, and widgeon grass. For Freshwater Manatees; alligator weed, floating hyacinth, hydrilla, musk grass, pickerelweed, water lettuce, and water celery.
Save the Manatee “A Manatee Eating Vegetation”
How do Manatees behave?
Manatees spend most of their time eating, resting, and traveling. Even though Manatees are herbivores sometimes they accidentally eat the small fish that is left in the grass and algae! Although they live in the ocean they still need to come up for air because they are mammals! They have resting spots at the bottom or just below the surface of the water. They come up for air every five minutes. However, when they are using a great deal of energy they come up for air every 30 seconds. Manatees can swim up to 20 miles per hour, but they are known to swim about three to five miles per hour.
Center for Biological Diversity “Saving the Florida Manatee”
Where do the Manatees live?
Manatees are usually found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals, and coastal areas. For the reason that they are migratory species (migration species), they are found in Florida in the winter, and in the summer they CAN be found in the far west of Texas and Massachusetts. But Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina are more common.
Manatee-World “Manatee Habitat”
What are the characteristics of a Manatee?
The Manatee grows up to 8-13 feet, and weigh 440 to 1,300 pounds! They also have a lifespan of 40 years! They have two forelimbs (also known as flippers). Lastly, their face is wrinkled with whiskers on the snout.
U.S. Department of the Interior “6 Facts about Manatees”
What do the Manatees Offspring act and look like?
Manatees' offspring are not able to reproduce until they are about 5 years old. Manatees have one calf every two to five years. Mothers then nurse their young for one to two years (the calf is very dependent at this time). Manatee calves are born underwater and must help their mom get to the surface for air.
Scientific American “French Zoo Offers Rare Look at Baby Manatee”
Sources Used:
Comments