January 21, 2014
“The ocean
has sustained us,
connected us, and
shaped us as nations,
tribes and individuals.”
SEA CREATURE
FACT OF THE WEEK
-World Ocean
Observatory
MANATEES
These herbivorous mammals grow up to 4 m (13 ft) in length and can weigh up to 590 kg (1300 lbs)! At birth, a
baby manatee will already weigh 30 kg (66 lbs) on average.
Manatees live in the Caribbean Sea,
the Gulf of Mexico, the Amazon Basin and
along the West coast of central Africa. They
are typically found in very shallow (1-2m or
3.3-6.6 ft) water, and tend to swim slowly
along at a pace of 8 km (5 miles) per hour.
Solitary creatures, Manatees are
usually alone or with their calves. Only one
calf is born at a time, and Manatees only
reproduce every two or three years. Due to
their slow growth and reproductive rates
and their shallow habitat, Manatees are
vulnerable to human activities, and are
often injured by boats. Though they have
Sea-Elephant?
Manatees’ closest relatives are
actually land mammalsspecifically elephants! Despite
this, they are often called Sa
Cows.
excellent hearing, their auditory range is
too high to cover the low-frequency noises
emitted by most boats, so they don’t hear
them coming. Today they are endangered,
but a number of laws have been passed to
protect them.
[1]
Who Needs a Dentist When You Can
Grow Your Own Teeth?
Manatees are among only three
mammals in the world that
continually grow and replace
their teeth (the others are
elephants and kangaroos).