How do they behave?
Manatees are solitary, peaceful mammals that live in shallow waters such as rivers and estuaries. They spend about half of the day sleeping, coming to the surface every 20 minutes or so to breathe. They are slow-moving, generally only reaching speeds of three to five miles per hour, but they are capable of reaching speeds of 20 miles per hour.
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| I just think they're sweet. By Ahodges7 and Nellie Anger, via Wikimedia Commons |
Manatees are born in the water, typically one calf per cow (female manatee). The mother pushes the baby up to the surface to take its first breath, but the baby learns to swim after that! When the baby stops nursing, it leaves its mother to go eat plants alone. They live, on average, around 40 years in the wild, but there is a manatee named Snooty alive in captivity who is now 66 years old.
They are herbivores; they graze the bottom of estuaries and rivers, eating plants growing in water. This behavior, as well as their shape, has earned them the nickname "sea cow."
Manatees are known to be quite curious, frequently investigating things at the surface of the water. Unfortunately, this behavior has proven to be very dangerous for them, as it often results in the animals being injured by boats.
Fun Facts:
Okay, true, all the stuff above is life cycle business. But here are some really interesting things!
Manatees do not have eyelashes. They blink in a circular motion, so they don't need them!
Also, manatees' closest living relatives are elephants! Similarities between the animals can be found in their teeth. Manatees, like elephants (and kangaroos, but that's probably a coincidence), have no canine teeth or incisors, but they do have a set of cheek teeth. Throughout their lives, the manatees lose those teeth and they are replaced by new ones. Manatees never have more than six teeth in their mouths at a time.
Manatees have been the subject of folklore and mythology for centuries. They were thought to be mermaids by Christopher Columbus and his men when they reached the shores of North America, and it was rumored that they were once human in some West African cultures.
What's their conservation status?
Manatees are endangered. They have no natural predators, so the biggest threats to them are human-related. Boating accidents account for approximately 25% of manatee deaths, and indeed boating injuries are so rampant that manatees can often be distinguished from one another by the injuries on their backs.
Another human related threat to manatees comes from nuclear plants that empty into rivers or estuaries. Runoff from these plants heats the water, making it comfortable for manatees. Instead of traveling to warmer waters during winter as they normally would, the manatees stay put. This warmth is not enough to stand up to winter cold, however, and manatees can suffer what is known as "cold stress" death as a result.
How can I help?
If you live inland, then some of the best things you can do are the best things you can do for the environment in general. Limit plastic use, control where your litter ends up--remember, it's all connected down the line.
You can also check out this website, which is dedicated to manatee conservation! You can even sponsor one, if that's something you'd like to do. They call it "adopting" on the website, which I think is adorable.
Sources:
Cooper, J.C. (1992). Symbolic and Mythological Animals. London: Aquarian Press.
Flamn, R.O., Haymark C. and Reynolds J.E. (2012). Improving conservation of Florida manatees. Environmental Management.
Kennedy, Kelli (2006). Florida boaters killing endangered manatees. Cyber Diver News Network.
Shoshani, J., ed. (2000). Elephants: Majestic Creatures of the Wild. Checkmark Books.
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