During the winter, Florida manatees congregate around warm springs and power plants that discharge warm water. Female manatees are not sexually mature until they are 5 to 9 years old. Males are mature at about 9 years of age. The gestation period is approximately 13 months. Usually only one calf is born every 2 to 5 years.
Twins are rare.
Newborn calves weigh 60 to 70 pounds and are about 4 feet long. They nurse from a nipple located behind the forelimb of their mother. Born with teeth, calves begin eating plants within a few weeks after birth but may remain with their mother up to 2 years. Manatees communicate with each other by emitting sounds underwater that are audible to humans. These squeaks and squeals are especially important for maintaining contact between a mother and calf.