Usually only one calf is born every 2 to 5 years. Twins are rare. Newborn calves weigh 60 to 70 pounds and are about 4 feet long. They nurse from a nipple located behind the forelimb of their mother. Born with teeth, calves begin eating plants within a few weeks after birth but may remain with their mother up to 2 years.
Manatees communicate with each other by emitting sounds underwater that are audible to humans.
These squeaks and squeals are especially important for maintaining contact between a mother and calf. Hunted for thousands of years, manatee meat was a food source for Native Americans and, later, the Spaniards. Bones were used for medicinal purposes. Leather made from manatee hides was prized for its thickness and used for canoes and battle shields. Missionaries used manatee oil for lamps.