West Indian Manatee
Manatees are big, gentle and slow moving. They spend most of their time eating aquatic plants, resting or traveling to select feeding areas.The manatee is gray or gray-brown and because of their speed has algae and other aquaitc life growing on its back. Manatees can grow as large as 13 feet and weigh more than 3,000 pounds.The manatee has a large, seal-shaped body that tapers to a round tail. It has two flipper-like front legs with four fingernail-like spots on each limb. The skin is smooth looking, and they have some whiskers on its upper lip. Manatees are completely harmless, shy and have no system of defense other than flight. In spite of the absence of external earlobes, the animal can hear very well ,and communicates much as dolphins or whales do. These sounds are within the human auditory range. The mammal must surface every few minutes to breathe.The habitat includes warm, slow-moving rivers and coastal areas with seagrass beds. The manatee eats aquatic plants and can eat up to 15 percent of its own body weight every day. The West Indian manatee winter in Florida, but can be found as far north as Virginia and the Carolinas and as far west as Louisiana. TheWest Indian Manatee can also be found in waters of Central and South America. Female manatees are mature at the age of 5 to 9 years. A cow will bear a calf about every 2 to 5 years. Males are not thought to be mature until the age of 6 to 9. The greatest danger to the manatee's survival is caused by humans. Boat propellers cause a number of injuries to these animals, and pollution and loss of habit are also taking their toll. Naturally-occurring dangers for the manatees are cold water temperaures and the Red Tide.

West Indian Manatees are on the endangered species list, and are protected by the Florida Manatee Sanction Act of 1978,
The U.S. Marine Mammal Act of 1972 and by the U. S. Endangered Species Act of 1973.
Manatee in the fish bowl
Manatee Facts

• Manatee are on the endangered species list

• Manatee babies are called calfs

• Manatees can weigh 3,000 pounds and 13 feet in length

• Manatees nearest living relative is
the elephant
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If you see dead or injured animals or manatee harassment, call the Florida Marine Patrol on the Manatee Hotline toll free at 1-800-DIAL-FMP.
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