5 (awesome) Manatee Photos & Facts to Get You Through The Day Another long day? Oh the (Hu) manatee! …See what we did there? Here at SeaWorld and Busch Gardens, we really love sharing our passion for animals with people. And that’s why we really want to share some super cool facts about one of our favorite marine animals, the manatee. We promise—these fun facts with make
your day seem a little bit better. The super adorable photos won’t hurt either. Because really, who doesn’t love a cute sea cow?! (Here’s a fun fact to start off, female manatees = cow & male manatees = bull)
How long can you hold your breath?
Manatees go to the water’s surface every three to five minutes to breathe. But what makes this even cooler? They can stay underwater for much longer, holding their breath for up to 20 minutes.
We can really feel the love.
The calf remains close to its mother for up to two years. It is dependent on its mother not only for nutrition, but also for learning about feeding and resting areas, travel routes, and warm water refuges.
NOW that’s a BIG baby.
Manatee calves are about one meter (between 3-4 feet long) and weigh between 37-31 kilograms (60-70 pounds) at birth.
They are more unique than you think.
Mammals; human and non, normally have seven neck vertebrae. BUT manatees have an irregular number of vertebrae—only six.
BONUS FACT!
Probably the coolest fact about manatees is that they don’t have any predators in the wild. But with that being said; Watercraft encounters, fishing instruments, and cold water are three of the biggest threats to these sweet marine animals. If you see an injured marine animal, you can help by calling the FWC hotline at 1-888-404-3922 or by dialing *FWC on a cellular device.
Who said anything about counting carbs?
The herbivorous manatee eats about ten percent of it’s body weight every day. Even better? They actually spend a good part of their day just chomping. www.gulfcoastfamily.org
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