They eat for about 6-8 hours a day, feeding on mostly vegetables because they are herbavores. They go into a rest for 2-12 hours a day. They graze for food on the surface and directly under the surface. The manatee does not have any gills so it must come up for breath about every 3-5 minutes. While sleeping, they can stay beneath the water for up to 20 minutes.
Manatees are agile and play by twisting and turning over to express emotions.
Habitat Manatees do not live in oceans and large seas. They love to stay in warm rivers and streams in Florida. They can live in fresh, brackish, or salt waters. These areas of Florida are the perfect shelters from the extreme cold, and provide them with safe breeding and raising grounds. World Wide The West Indian Manatee and all other types of manatees belong to the Sirenia family.