Habitat West Indian Manatees can be found in shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals and coastal areas. Key Facts These large, seal-shaped mammals can reach a length of 12 feet and weigh more than 3,500 pounds. Manatees eat water hyacinth and other submerged vegetation for 5 to 8 hours a day. Manatees are surprisingly agile and can perform somersaults, tail stands and other graceful underwater maneuvers.
Female manatees deliver only one calf every three to five years.
Manatees reach breeding maturity between 3 and 10 years of age. Manatees are extremely susceptible to cold, sometimes migrating to warm springs and even warm water discharge from power plants during the winter months. Manatees have no natural enemies, and it is believed they can live 60 years or more. Threats Human threats to the manatee include loss of habitat, hunting and collision with boats. Fishers and boaters with outboard motors often move through the manatees' habitat, and boat strikes are a leading cause of mortality in Florida.