Manatee Fun Facts – Manateetown

Manatees are marine mammals (which means they breathe air) and their closest relative is the ELEPHANT.
Manatees generally swim at 5 mph but can sprint up to 25 mph.
Manatees have small brains but are highly intelligent.
Manatees eat about 15% of their body weight per day – 150 lbs. for a 1,000 lb. manatee. They feed mainly on seagrass.
Manatees are only about 3% body fat. That is why they are subject to cold water and will suffer hypothermia if the water temperature drops below 68 degrees. The springs in King’s Bay stay at a constant 72 degrees year-round and that is why the manatees migrate there.
Manatees usually come to the surface every 3 to 5 minutes to breathe.
Female manatees carry their calves for 14 months. The calf will stay with its mother up to 4 years.
Manatees have no natural predators and are gentle and non-aggressive.
Crystal River is known as the Manatee Capital of the World. It is one of the only places in the US where you can legally swim with the manatees.
Adult manatees can grow to be 9-13 ft. and will usually live 40-60 years.
Manatees are generally loners. If you see them together with each other it is usually to keep warm near cold springs.
When they are born, manatees are 3-4 ft. long and weigh 60-70 lbs.
Manatees have marching molars. That means that their teeth are continually moving from back to front and are being replaced regularly.