West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus) at Merritt Island's National Wildlife Refuge in Florida nex
The Lowdown
The West Indian manatee (Trichechus manatus), affectionately known as the sea cow, is a gentle marine herbivore that glides effortlessly through warm coastal waters and crystal-clear freshwater springs. Weighing up to 1,200 pounds and measuring ten feet in length, these peaceful mammals are close evolutionary relatives of elephants rather than whales or dolphins.
Manatees spend up to eight hours a day grazing on submerged aquatic vegetation, consuming nearly ten percent of their body weight in seagrass daily. Because seagrass contains abrasive silica grains that grind down teeth, manatees possess “marching molars”: a conveyor belt of teeth that continuously grow from the rear of the jaw and migrate forward to replace worn-out grinders throughout their lives.
Biological Fact: Manatees renew ninety percent of the air in their lungs with every single breath, compared to only ten percent for humans.
Lacking blubber despite their rounded appearance, manatees are highly susceptible to cold stress when water temperatures drop below 20°C (68°F). During winter months, hundreds of manatees congregate in natural thermal spring basins and warm-water river outflows, resting together in calm, synchronized harmony.
