Manatees are mythical creatures that have given rise to countless legends, such as mermaids. These beautiful Marine Mammals are distinguished by their plump body and round, large, flattened tail. In this Dolphin Discovery blog, we will tell surprising facts about them.
All About Manatees
Manatees belong to the order Sirenia, also known as “sea cow,” since they are the only herbivorous Marine Mammals. Their closest modern relatives are elephants, followed by hyraxes and aardvarks. Physically they may not look very similar, but biochemical analyzes found a relationship between the four animals, probably because they had a common ancestor that separated and changed based on geographic location, food, climate, etc.
They mainly inhabit warm areas, as their bodies are not adapted to resist low temperatures.
They are very important for the natural balance and the preservation of ecosystems since they control the population of aquatic plants, favoring the transparency of the waters and maintaining an oxygenated environment so that other species can survive.
How Many Species Of Manatees Are There?
There are four species: The Caribbean Manatee, which is the king of the waters north of the Gulf of Mexico; the Manatee of the Antilles, which is found in the Caribbean Islands, Gulf of Mexico, Mexican Caribbean, and Central America; Amazonian Manatee, which lives in the Amazon River in Brazil and the African Manatee which can be found on the west coast of Africa, from Mauritania to Angola.
What Do Manatees Eat?
Manatees feed on 60 types of marine plants, such as algae, mangroves, and seabed, in shallow waters. Due to their diet, they produce a high amount of gas due to digestion, which makes them float very easily.
Manatees need to drink fresh water at least once a week, and although they are hydrated through plants, some have been observed drinking from freshwater sources.
Fun Facts About Manatees
The gestation period of Manatees is 13 months, they have a single calf every 3 or 4 years, and the mothers nurse the young for one or two years. They can live between 50 and 60 years.
They are considered a semi-social species since they remain alone, in pairs, or in small groups; they can interact and communicate with each other through their senses and vocalizations; They can emit different sounds and thus strengthen the bonds between family members, companions, and couples.
Another characteristic of the Manatees is that they rest during the night and the day for short periods; some rest just below the surface of the water, but in general, they submerge to the bottom and come up to breathe every three or five minutes. The time they spend underwater depends on their activity level or energy expenditure, as there are specimens that have to float every 30 seconds and others that can take up to 20 minutes.
They weigh around 400 to 500 kilograms, and their movements are slow, at no more than 10 km per hour, but if they feel in danger, they can swim at more than 30 km per hour.
Where Can I Interact With The Manatees?
At Dolphin Discovery, we take you to live the incredible experience of interacting with these tender mammals, where our Specialists will tell you all about their diet, habits, and many curious facts.
Discover our interactive program: Encounter with Manatees at Dolphin Discovery Puerto Aventuras or Dolphin Discovery Cozumel.
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