Fun Manatee Facts and Information

Manatees are the big lovable lugs of marine mammal life. Not sleek like dolphins – or as intelligent – but no dummies either. Unlike sharks, they’re practically cuddly (approach a manatee gently on one of our manatee tours and it may turn over and ask for a belly scratch!).

If you love manatees as much as we love manatees (and we’re positive you’ll become a raving fan once you meet them), then we know you’ll want to learn as much as possible about these wonderful gentle giants.

Read below for some “fun” facts about manatees:

• Average Manatee is 10ft long weighing 800-1200 pounds.
• They have been known to reach 13 ft and 3500 pounds.
• When born they are 3-4 ft long and 60-70 pounds.
• Manatees are herbivores meaning plant eating animals.
• Manatees replace worn teeth throughout their lifetime.
• Manatees have fairly good vision and can distinguish between colors.
• Manatees cannot survive in temperatures below 68 degrees (20 Celsius).
• Manatees spend 6-8 hours a day feeding.
• Manatees surface for air every 3-5 minutes.
• Manatees do not form permanent bonds when breeding.
• Manatees can stay submerged up to 20 minutes.
• Females mature for breeding at about 5 years old and 8 years old for males.
• On average one calf is born every 5 years.
• Gestation period is about 1 year long
• Mothers nurse young for up to 2 years.
• Manatees may live as long as 60 years.
• Manatees do not have eyelashes.
• Manatees prefer water 3-7 feet deep.
• Manatees range from Virginia to Texas and one was documented in Rhode Island. (Very rare).
• Manatees eat 10% to 15% of their body weight each day.
• Manatees are an endangered species.

We offer Manatee Tours year round. Click Here for Info on our Winter Manatee Tours!
For more interesting manatee information, click here!