They have been clocked at a speed of 15 miles per hour in short spurts. Manatees swim alone, in pairs or in small groups of three to six animals. They use their tails to propel themselves and to control movements. Flippers are used to stabilize and for precise movements. Also, in shallow water, they use their flippers to walk on the bottom.
Manatees are herbivorous animals that eat submerged, floating, emergent and shoreline vegetation.
Manatees feed on over 60 species of plants. Adults feed six to eight hours a day, in one and two hour sittings. They like to be petted. Manatees make underwater sounds when frightened, sexually aroused or interacting with each other. The first priority is to return healthy manatees to their natural habitat.