In preparation for winter, manatees travel to areas with warm water such as natural springs or man-made power plants. The Florida Power and Light Company has sighted over 300 manatees together enjoying the warm water and plentiful vegetation near the Fort Myers power plant. Male and female manatees are difficult to distinguish. Biologists even have a hard time identifying the sexes. If you are lucky enough to view the underside of a manatee, you will have the opportunity to locate the position of their genitals.
Males have genitals located closely below their navel.
Females have genitals located above the anus. Females are also identified by the presence of a calf nursing from mammaries located under their pectoral fins. Manatees can hold their breath for approximately 20 minutes, however they regularly breathe every few minutes. Don't worry if you see a manatee go under water and not come directly back to the surface. They often move under water and surface at a different location out of eyesight.