Student Article
Manatees: Gentle Sea Cows of Rivers and Oceans
Sirenia (noun): The order of aquatic, plant-eating mammals that includes manatees and dugongs.
Grazing (verb): Feeding on growing grass or plants.
Subspecies (noun): A population within a species that has distinct characteristics but can interbreed with others.
Vulnerable (adjective): At risk of harm or extinction.
Rehabilitation (noun): The process of helping an injured or sick animal return to health.
Let’s learn about manatees, the gentle giants of the sea!
Meet the mellow manatee
Manatees are slow-moving, plant-eating marine mammals affectionately known as “sea cows.” They are members of the order Sirenia and are closely related to elephants. Despite their size and strength, manatees are gentle creatures that spend most of their time grazing in warm, shallow waters.
Three species, one gentle giant
There are three recognized manatee species: the West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), the African manatee (Trichechus senegalensis), and the Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis). The West Indian manatee includes two subspecies: the Florida manatee, found in rivers, springs, and coastal waters around Florida, and the Caribbean manatee, which ranges from the Bahamas to northern Brazil. The Amazonian species lives solely in fresh water and is the smallest, averaging about 8 feet long. Others can grow up to 10 feet and weigh around 1,000 pounds.
How big are manatees?
Manatees feed primarily on seagrasses, such as eelgrass, and consume large quantities daily. This constant grazing is essential for maintaining healthy seagrass beds and preventing overgrowth, which benefits other marine species.
Manatees are hungry helpers
Reproduction in manatees involves a “mating herd” of males that pursue a fertile female. The female may mate with multiple partners and usually births a single calf, which remains with her for over a year as it learns to navigate its environment.
A slow swim into motherhood
Unfortunately, all manatee species are classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Major threats include habitat destruction, collisions with motorboats, and water pollution. In 2017, the U.S. reclassified the West Indian manatee from Endangered to Threatened, though experts warn that continued protections are still necessary.
Trouble in their waters
Conservation projects like Florida’s King’s Bay Restoration and Save Crystal River are working to restore manatee habitats by cleaning waterways and replanting seagrass. Boating speed regulations and rehabilitation programs also help protect this iconic species.
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Sirenia (noun): The order of aquatic, plant-eating mammals that includes manatees and dugongs.
Grazing (verb): Feeding on growing grass or plants.
Subspecies (noun): A population within a species that has distinct characteristics but can interbreed with others.
Vulnerable (adjective): At risk of harm or extinction.
Rehabilitation (noun): The process of helping an injured or sick animal return to health.