In one day, a manatee eats between 10-15 percent of its body weight in vegetation. Most of the manatee's time is spent eating, resting and traveling. They may rest submerged at the bottom of the water or just below its surface, coming up to breathe every three to five minutes. Sometimes they may surface to breathe as often as every 30 seconds. Well known for their gentle, slow-moving nature, manatees have also been known to body surf or barrel roll when playing.
Manatees communicate by squealing under water to demonstrate fear, stress or excitement.
Manatees are concentrated in Florida in the winter, but in summer months can migrate as far west as Alabama and as far north as Virginia and the Carolinas. The manatee's gestation period lasts for about 13 months. Calves are born weighing between 60 and 70 pounds and measuring about three to four feet. Manatees usually bare one calf every two to four years. Manatees are thought to live 50 to 60 years in the wild.