Manatees in Florida feed on over 60 species of plants. These include turtle grass, manatee grass, shoal grass, mangrove leaves, various algae, water hyacinth and water hydrilla. Manatees avoid specific plants such as splatterdock and waterpennywort that contain natural toxins. Manatees feed off the bottom, in the water column and at the surface. They have even been know to crop overhanging branches, consume acorns and haul themselves partially out of the water to eat bank vegetation.
Manatees use their front flippers and large flexible lips to manipulate vegetation.
Horny ridged pads at the front of a manatee's palate and lower jaw break vegetation into small pieces. Behind these pads, molars grind the food. Manatees have been seen drinking fresh water from hoses, sewage outfalls, culverts and other fresh water sources and also congregating at river mouths. Most scientists agree that manatees must have access to fresh water periodically. Male manatees are also known as bull manatees and probably reach sexual maturity at about nine or ten years of age.