Manatees, the gentle and endearing aquatic giants, are most often seen either sleeping or grazing. These large, herbivore marine mammals implant a sense of delight, but sadly, they are threatened due to factors like loss of habitat and fatal interactions with boats. Current estimations suggest that only between 7,634 and 10,434 individuals of the West Indian manatees remain. For Amazonian manatees, the exact population figure remains unknown, but it is believed to be equally alarming. It’s unfortunate that this magnificent creature is nearing extinction. This list is intended to raise awareness about these wonderful animals and reveal 25 interesting facts about manatees.
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Though manatees average about three meters (9.8 feet) long and weigh between 362-544 kilograms (800 – 1,200 pounds), some manatees have been known to reach lengths of about four meters (13 feet) and weigh over 1,587 kilograms (3,500 pounds).
Manatees do not have blowholes. They breathe through nostrils similar to seals.
Researchers use scars from watercraft collisions in order to identify manatees.
In order to tell a female from a male manatee, look at the underside of a manatee. The genital opening of the male is just below the belly button, and the female’s genital opening is just above the anus.
In what may seem somewhat counter-intuitive, power plant effluents play a critical role in manatee protection. Manatees use the plant effluents as winter warm water refugia which protect manatees during cold spells.
Manatees cannot turn their heads sideways. In order to look around, it has to turn its whole body.
A manatee’s age can be determined by the annual growth rings in its ear bones.
Manatees do not have eyelashes, and their eye muscles close in a circular motion.
It’s believed that the word manatee comes from the Carib word “manati,” meaning woman’s breast.
Manatees are sometimes called “sea cows.” It’s believed this name comes from the fact that manatees are herbivores like cows.
Manatees have fingernails with three to four nails on each flipper? Only West African and West Indian manatees (including the Florida manatee) have fingernails though.
If you think this is fascinating, wait until you see number 4.