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What is a manatee? |
Water Animals
Manatees, also called sea cows, are gray mammals that live in warm fresh or saltwater. They have wrinkled faces and long bodies with two flippers and a flat tail. Because manatees are mammals, they can’t breathe underwater, but they’re able to hold their breath for long periods of time so they can feed.
Speaking of food, manatees are herbivores, or plant eaters. Did you know that manatees can eat more than 100 pounds of plants each day? Or that they weigh more than 1000 pounds? In fact some weigh 2,000 pounds, which is one ton!
As large as they are, manatees don’t have much body fat, which makes them very sensitive to the cold. They prefer to live in water that is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit or above in temperature!
Manatees are endangered animals, which means they are in danger of becoming extinct (no longer existing) if we don’t take steps to protect them! Keeping their water habitats clean, boating at safe speeds when on their turf, and observing them without getting too close are ways to make sure manatees stay healthy and happy.
