The manatee can hear well, even though its ears contain no external lobes. Its nostrils, located on the snout, are tightly closed by flaps of skin when the manatee is underwater and opened when it surfaces to breath. Eating Habits Manatees spend approximately six to eight hours per day feeding. Their hearty appetites consist of 60 to 100 pounds of vegetation each day. The location of the manatee's mouth is well adapted for feeding on bottom vegetation.
Manatees eat submerged and floating vegetation.
The manatee is generally a slow moving creature and is content to simply glide along, moving forward by using its tail and steering by using both its tail and flippers. Manatees use their flippers to help them swim and to hold vegetation while feeding. For its large size, the manatee is quite nimble, performing such underwater feats as upside-down swimming, head and tail stands and barrel rolls. The manatee rests from two to 12 hours per day. It remains motionless with its eyes closed, either lying on the bottom or suspended near the surface.