Manatees belong to the family of aquatic mammals of the order Sirenia (mermaid); they are characterized by being vegetarians. They feed on more than 60 plants, such as mangrove leaves and algae. The word “Manatee” of Latin origin means “with breasts” due to the action of nursing their young.
There are three common types of Manatees: the Antillean Manatee, which lives in the low waters of the rivers and coasts of the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico, the Amazon Manatee that, as its name suggests, lives in the Amazon and finally the African Manatee. Western. They live in fresh and salty waters near the coasts of America and Africa.
They measure between 3 and 4.5 meters in length, and their weight ranges from 300 to 500 kg. They have a horizontally flattened spatula-shaped tail (this differentiates them from dugongs), two fins with claws, a large body, and grayish-brown skin; They also breathe through their nostrils, like seals, and they have lovely whiskers on their trunks.
The females give birth every 2 to 5 years to a calf, which on average weighs 35kg and measures 90 to 120cm in length; they nurse their young for at least two years until their teeth are strong enough to grind solid food. They are considered adults at four years old and can live up to 80 years.
Live The Experience Of Interacting With Manatees!
There are very few places where you can interact with Manatees because it is a species in danger of extinction. All Habitats that have them must be committed to their care and support their reproduction for the species’ survival.
You can meet them at the Dolphin Discovery Habitats in the Riviera Maya, on Isla Mujeres, and in Cozumel, you can combine them with a swim with Dolphins or enjoy them alone.