Description:
The Florida manatee is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee. Adults can grow up to 13 feet and weights of 3,500 pounds, although they average about 9-10 feet in length and about half a ton (1,000 pounds) in weight. Manatees are gray with whiskers around their face and lips. They have two forelimbs that they use for steering and grasping, and a round, flat tail to propel themselves.
Like cetaceans, manatees cannot breathe underwater. They can hold their breath for about 20 minutes, but usually come up for air every few minutes.
Manatees communicate vocally by making squeaking and squealing sounds, and communicate with touch by rubbing, mouthing and “kissing” each other.
Classification:
Habitat and Distribution:
Manatees are generally found in shallow waters near the coast. Temperature influences the manatee’s distribution, with manatees preferring water above 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The Florida manaatee occurs year-round along both the east and west coast of Florida, but may occasionally be found as far north as Vrginia and as far west as Texas. Several hundred manatees may gather at spots of warm water in winter, such as power plant discharge areas.
Feeding:
Manatees are herbivores, eating seagrasses and other aquatic plants. They can eat up to 7% of their body weight each day.
Reproduction:
The gestation period for a manatee is about 13 months and they have one calf at a time. Calves stay with their mother for about 2 years, although some have nursed with their mothers for up to 4 years. Females are considered sexually mature at 3-4 years and they have calves about every 2-3 years. Mating occurs from February-July and birthing occurs from May through September. The maximum life expectancy is estimated at 60 years.
Conservation Status:
The Florida manatee population is listed under the IUCN Red List as endangered, with a population size of less than 2,500 adult animals. However, according to the USGS, the manatee population is stable or increasing.
Threats to the Florida manatee include human interactions (e.g. mortality or injury from watercraft, entanglement), and more natural threats such as manatees not finding refuge when the water turns cold, and red tide.
The USGS estimated loss of warm water habitat was going to be more significant in the next 20-40 years as there will be less warm water habitats associated with power plants due to technological and economic changes.
