What is a Manatee? Manatee Fun Facts

October 2, 2024

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They’re big. They’re adorable. They do somersaults in the water and look good on sun shirts. But what is a manatee, really? Keep reading for the lowdown on these massive sea creatures – along with a selection of manatee shirts that let you keep these delightful critters close your heart (literally!)

What is a manatee?

Manatees are massive creatures that live in the sea, but they are actually mammals. Their closest relative is the elephant.

The relation is apparent when you check out the manatee’s wrinkly, leathery-looking skin. The skin readily flakes off to help get rid of the algae that grows on them and the barnacles that like to attach to their bodies.

Unlike an elephant, manatees don’t have a trunk. But they do have muscular upper lips they can use to grab at foodstuff, the same way an elephant uses the tip of its trunk.

Manatee also have two front flippers they use for steering and holding their food while eating. A large, paddle-shaped back tail helps with swimming.

How big do manatees get?

Here’s where we get another nod toward their elephant relations. Manatees get huge.

Average adult manatee:

10 feet long
1,000 pounds

Maximum size of the manatee:

13 feet long
More than 3,500 pounds

Where do manatees live?

Florida has its own subspecies of manatee known as, well, the Florida manatee. The Florida native is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee. As you may have guessed, the Florida manatee lives in the rivers, springs and coastal waters of Florida.

You’ll find them in the Gulf of Mexico, sometimes hanging around the coast of Louisiana and even traveling as far west as Texas. Florida manatees in the Atlantic Ocean have been spotted near Georgia, North and South Carolina, and even up near Massachusetts in balmy weather.

When winter hits, however, Florida is their destination.

The West Indian manatee has a larger range. In addition to the southern United States, you can find them in Central America, the Caribbean Islands and the northern part of South America.

What do manatees eat?

Manatees aren’t called sea cows for nothing. As herbivores, the giant creatures graze on sea grass and other aquatic plant life – for up to eight hours per day. Manatees eat 4% to 9% of their body weight in vegetation daily, which means the average manatee is happily munching on 40 to 90 pounds of plant life per day.

What about manatee teeth?

Molars are the only type of teeth you’ll find in a manatee’s mouth (if you ever get that close). They have no teeth used for biting, only those meant for grinding. The heavy grinding of plants, especially those that have sand mixed in, puts a lot of wear and tear on the teeth.

New molars grow in from the back on a regular basis, pushing all the teeth forward at a rate of about 1 centimeter per month. The older teeth in front fall out as the new ones keep emerging from the back.

What’s the manatee lifespan?

While manatee can live up to 65 years in captivity, their lifespan is far shorter in the wild. Only about half the manatee that make it into adulthood survive into their early 20s.

Are manatees friendly?

Yes. As long as you are kind to them, they’ve been known to be very gentle and kind right back. So kind, in fact, they’re sometimes called gentle giants.

Where can I see manatee in Cape Coral or Southwest Florida?

Cape Coral residents who live on a canal that connects to the sea sometimes get manatee passing through their backyards (in the water, of course). You can also visit a few nearby places during the winter months when the manatee come around for warmth.