A manatee may have six to seven functional molars on each side of its jaw. These grinding teeth form in the rear of the jaw and move forward. As older molars in the front become worn, they fall out and are replaced by new teeth. A female manatee or cow can give birth to a single calf every three years. The calf begins feeding on plants when it's a few weeks old, but continues to nurse from its mother for about 12 to 18 months.
Twins are rare.
This long period of nursing allows the calf to learn migration routes, foods, and preferred feeding areas from its mother. Manatees are mostly solitary creatures, but they sometimes gather in unorganized groups of a dozen or more. Staying submerged Manatees are usually found at or near the surface. On average, manatees return to the surface every two to three minutes for air, but can stay underwater for up to 20 minutes. All species of manatee migrate during particular seasons.