Manatees - A Unique Aquatic Mammal
Written sometime in 2019
Manatees are aquatic mammals that have a flat, paddle-like tail and two forelimbs, or flippers.
Size
An adult manatee is about 10 feet long and weighs between 800 and 1,200 pounds.
Habitat
Manatees live in saltwater bays, estuaries, shallow, slow-moving rivers, and coastal areas. In the U.S, they mostly live in Florida, Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina.
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Speed
Manatees usually swim from 3 to 5 miles an hour, but can swim 20mph in short bursts. They are mammals, so they go to the surface of the water to get air about every 5 minutes. When they are resting, they can go 20 minutes without surfacing for air.
Threats
Manatees have no natural predators, and can live up to 60 years or more. One reason they die is because of humans. Mostly it's when watercraft collide with the manatees, and other times it's because they are drowned in canal locks, ingestion of fish hooks, and litter. The most serious threat facing manatees is habitat loss.
Learn More
Go to savethemanatee.org to learn more about manatees and the danger they are facing!
#savethemanatee
Chubby Squirrel is a huge fan of manatees and gets #savethemanatee calendars almost every year.