Learn About Manatee | Frequently Asked Questions

We Hope You Enjoy Learning About Manatees 🐾

🌊 What Is a Manatee?

Manatees are gentle giants of the sea—slow-moving, friendly, and affectionately nicknamed “sea cows.” With paddle-shaped tails and flippers, these marine mammals typically weigh between 900–1,200 lbs and measure 9–10 feet long (though some can reach 15 feet!). Fun fact: the females are usually even bigger than the males.

🥬 What Do Manatees Eat?

These hungry herbivores chow down on over 60 types of aquatic plants. On a typical day, a manatee might munch on 10–15% of its body weight in greenery—talk about a salad bar binge! They spend up to 7 hours a day grazing, and yes, they’ve even been spotted nibbling on small fish occasionally.

🌍 Where Do Manatees Live?

Manatees love warm, shallow waters. You’ll find them in the coastal regions and rivers of Florida, throughout the Caribbean Sea, and in parts of West Africa and the Amazon Basin. Thanks to their low metabolic rate, they thrive in tropical climates where the water stays cozy year-round.

⏳ How Long Do They Live?

In the wild, manatees can live up to 60 years. One beloved manatee, Snooty, holds the record for the oldest known captive-born manatee—he lived an amazing 69 years before his passing in 2017. 🕊️

👶 How Do Manatees Reproduce?

Manatees are slow and steady when it comes to parenting. Moms usually give birth to one calf every two to three years after a 12-month pregnancy. Newborns weigh about 66 lbs and stick close to mom for up to 18 months while learning the ropes of manatee life.

🔎 Want to dive deeper? Explore more about these lovable creatures on Wikipedia.