Manatees are a blessing of the waters. They are adorable and friendly. Many visitors of southwest Florida have taken a liking to these cuddly mammals. This is partly because they make no hesitations with interacting with humans and, of course, another part of it is that they are so cute to look at. Wildlife parks and sanctuaries all over the state of Florida have dedicated spots where these sea friends of ours thrive. They play and eat along the shallow waters of the area and this keeps them close to the kayakers and the swimmers who like to tag along. We bet you want to know more about them. So, here are ten things you might not know about manatees.
Going Green
Manatees love munching on sea grass, algae and even mangrove leaves. They are usually found feeding along shallow waters and coastal areas as well. Southwest Florida is the perfect place for them to feed because the region is covered in vast mangrove forests, beaches and other shallow waters.
Swole is the Goal
Despite the manatees’ huge appetite, people are surprised to know that they are not fat. Manatees are mostly muscle and thus are very lean. And boy, do they love to eat a lot. Every day, manatees can eat leaves that amount up to 10% of their body weight. That does not seem to sound much but once you know that an average manatee can weigh up to 1,200 lbs, then that changes the story.
Be Water, My friend
Manatees are highly adaptable to the type of waters they find themselves in. West African and West Indian manatees can thrive in both fresh and salt waters. They can maintain a healthy level of salinity within their bodies through the help of their magic kidneys that ensure the salt does not reach critical levels. Since manatees are mammals, some species are said to travel from salty to fresh water areas specifically just to drink the water there.
Breathe
If you think you can hold your breath underwater for a long time, then we dare you to challenge a manatee. They can hold their breaths for up to 20 minutes at a time and then they will have to resurface for some 3-5 minutes to recover. No wonder they love the shallows so much.
More Bones
Manatees have 6 vertebrae than the usual 7 for the rest of the mammalian kingdom. The only other animal that has the same number are the tree sloths.
Regenerating Teeth
Unlike humans, when a manatee’s tooth falls off, it grows back a new one. This regeneration happens throughout a manatee’s lifetime and has put the manatee dentists out of business since.
Underwater Moo
A nickname that’s given to manatees is Sea Cows. That’s probably because they look like cattle with their large figure and laid back attitude.
Mistaken Identity During the exploration era of the 1600’s, many European sailors who travelled to the New World encountered manatees and thought them to be the mythical mermaids. Having spent all those months at sea, those men must have been very lonely indeed.
Sweet Child of Mine
A female gives birth to a manatee calf ever 2-5 years. This young one will remain in its mother’s care for another 2 years before it can venture out on its own. But even in their infancy manatees are already hearty eaters, and can nibble a significant amount of sea grass even if they are just weeks old.
World Peace
Manatees have no natural enemies in the wild – except for humans. Fortunately, active steps are being taken by the government to ensure their safety. Want to know more about where you can find and mingle with manatees? Check out divinenaples.com and go to the Tourist Guide section for more help.
