• Home
• Meet John
• Search MLS Listings
• Barrier Islands
• Condominiums
• Sarasota Homes for Sale
• Lifestyles
• Visit Our Blog

Wildlife of Florida: The Manatee

Manatees have many characteristics that serve to fascinate humans. This mammal possesses a gentle nature within its large frame. Manatees can often be spotted swimming together looking for vegetation to eat. These amazing animals spend much of their lives travelling the warm waters in search of nourishment.  

Habitat and Distribution

Florida may be the place most commonly associated with the manatee. In fact, many live there during the winter season. They are also spotted in other places including South Carolina and Georgia. Sea grass is a favorite food source for manatees; consequently, they gravitate toward shallow areas of rivers or coasts where the vegetation grows.

• Profile of the Manatee: Learn about the habitat of manatees as well as the different types of manatees and their physical characteristics.
• The Life of a Manatee: Discover the waters a manatee lives in along with other intriguing facts.

Physical Characteristics

Some of the defining characteristics of a manatee are its wrinkled face, large body, and flippers. A full-grown manatee can weigh approximately 1,100 pounds. A manatee's body is grayish in color and measures around ten feet in length. Interestingly, a manatee can hear quite well in its underwater environment through a small hole on each side of its head. A set of whiskers grows on the nose of this wise-looking animal.  

• All about Manatees: Find a detailed description of a manatee as well as what they eat and its reproductive facts.
• Physical Characteristics of Manatees: Learn how manatees see, hear, breathe, and more!

Adaptations for an Aquatic Environment

A manatee's habitat is warm water. In fact, they need an environment where the water is around 68 to 70 degrees Fahrenheit. In order to survive, manatees travel to where the water is warm. Another amazing adaptation of the manatee is the design of their mouth including special molars to chew sea grass and other vegetation for adequate nourishment.

• Qualities of a Manatee: Read about the adaptations of manatees that allow them to thrive in their watery environment.
• Manatee Adaptation and More: Discover a collection of facts about manatees including how they adapt to their environment.

Behavior

Slow, deliberate movement is one of the more notable behaviors of a manatee. It moves through the water with the help of its flippers and large, flat tail. Manatees are often spotted when they appear at the surface of the sea to take a breath. A person observing a manatee at rest would likely see the animal come up to take a breath approximately every fifteen to twenty minutes.

• Manatee Information: Find the answers to many questions about manatees including explanations of their behaviors.

Diet and Eating Habits

Manatees are not meat eaters; they are herbivores. Not surprisingly, it takes a lot of vegetation to nourish the tremendous body of a manatee. Consequently, a manatee spends several hours of its day searching for sea grass and similar food to consume. A manatee can take in around 100 pounds of food in a day. 

• The Manatee Diet: Checkout what sorts of nourishment manatees search for.
• The Eating Habits of Manatees and More: Peruse facts about manatees including what they eat, their habitat, and how they swim.

Reproduction and Care of Young

A mother manatee is pregnant with a single baby for about a year to 13 months. A manatee comes into this world already a large animal at approximately four feet long. As with other mammals, a mother manatee nurses her baby calf. In addition, the mother makes sure her calf takes in adequate oxygen at the surface of the water, just as she does. When the baby calf reaches a year or so in age, its mother teaches it the process of feeding on vegetation.

• Facts about Manatees: Learn about manatees including information on their reproduction.

Communication

The communication that goes on between manatees is a mysterious process. A manatee has a small hole on either side of its head that allows it to hear. Interestingly, a manatee can hear sounds underwater that are well out of the range of a human's hearing capacity. The sounds that manatees make to one another beneath the sea are similar to clicks or whistles.

• Manatee Communication: Discover the unique communication methods of manatees.

Longevity and Causes of Death

Manatees are animals that can live long lives. In fact, if a manatee remains out of harm's way, it's capable of a lifespan of 60 years. Unfortunately, the slow swimming movements of a manatee leave it vulnerable to being struck by fast-moving boats. In addition, a manatee that finds itself in cold waters can get sick. People travelling in boats must always be aware of any nearby manatee activity.  

• Overview of Manatees: Checkout information on the life span of manatees and other interesting facts.
• Background of Manatees: Features facts on threats to the welfare of manatees along with further information about the animal.

Conservation

Fast moving boats are just one of the reasons that manatees need our continued protection. Fortunately, the Endangered Species Act is just one of the ways that manatees are protected from harm. Studying these unique animals will help in the conservation efforts. Most importantly, manatees are worthy of our protection and appreciation.  

• West Indian Manatee Conservation: Read about the condition of West Indian Manatees along with ideas regarding their conservation.
• Manatee Conservation: Find information on conservation efforts regarding the manatee and other important facts.

Barrier Islands

• Bird Key real estate
• Casey Key real estate
• Lido Key real estate
• Longboat Key real estate
• Siesta Key real estate
• St Armands real estate

Sarasota MLS Search

• Sarasota MLS Search
• MLS Map Search
• Search by Condo
• Search by Neighborhood
• MLS Number Search
• MLS Zip Code Search

Lifestyles

• Sarasota Condominiums
• Sarasota Luxury Homes
• Waterfront Homes
• Golf Course Living
• Beachfront Living
• West of the Trail

Condos

• Downtown Sarasota condos
• Golden Gate Point condos
• Lido Key condos
• Longboat Key condos
• Siesta Key condos
• Sarasota Beachfront condos

Master Planned Communities

• Palmer Ranch Homes for Sale
• Lakewood Ranch Homes for Sale

Buyer Resources

• Sarasota MLS Listings
• Real Estate Investments
• Real Estate Auctions
• Sarasota Short Sales
• Sarasota Foreclosures
• Sarasota Homes for sale