Boasting more than 80 distinct ecosystems, Florida is a biodiversity hotspot. More than 4,000 animal species, in fact, are native to the Sunshine State.
Through the UF/IFAS “Florida Critter of the Month” series, we’re highlighting native animals that wildlife watchers are likely to encounter in Florida and providing bite-sized guides to their behavior. Below, Maia McGuire, UF/IFAS associate program leader for marine and coastal Extension, provides some insight into Florida’s manatee population.
Q. How would you characterize Florida manatees?
A. The Florida manatee is a subspecies of the West Indian Manatee. Manatees can live in both fresh and salt water and can be found mostly in shallow coastal waters around the state. In the summer, when water temperatures are warmer, Florida manatees can be found as far west as Texas and as far north as Delaware Bay. However, manatees do not have blubber and cannot survive in cold water, so they return to warm water sites in the late fall.
Q. How would you describe manatee behavior?
A. Manatees are often referred to as “gentle giants.” They spend most of their time resting, traveling or feeding. Despite their large size, averaging six feet in length and 1,000 pounds in weight as adults, they are herbivores. They mostly graze on aquatic plants, but they will occasionally graze on terrestrial plants, even pulling the upper part of their body out of the water to feed on something particularly tasty.
Manatees need to eat about one-tenth of their body weight in plants each day, so they may spend many hours looking for and grazing on plants.
Q. Manatees are a distinctive-looking species. What can you share about their physical appearance?
A. Manatees have fingernails on their front flippers, and the bones inside their flippers look like those in a human hand.
Manatees grow new teeth continuously, and their mouths are full of molars. As one tooth gets worn down and falls out, a new tooth takes its place. This is why people refer to manatees as having “marching molars.”
Manatees have coarse hairs sparsely distributed over their bodies.
Q. What should someone do if they encounter a manatee?
A. Manatees are a protected species, so it is illegal to touch, feed or interfere with them in any way. Boaters should slow down and carefully move away from manatees if they spot them in the water. Anyone in or on the water should not approach manatees but should stay still and enjoy watching them.
People should not run a freshwater hose into the water—manatees get plenty of fresh water from the plants that they eat. Attracting them to docks, seawalls or boats can result in manatees being injured.