Manatees are known also as sea cows. They are aquatic mammals who breathe air just like whales. These animals are close relatives to the dugong. They roam the waters of the Eastern Hemisphere. They may look a lot like dugongs but manatees in general have forked tails. These tails are similar to the shape of the whales’ tails. The only difference is that the tails of manatees are just like boat paddles in shape.

Living up to their “sea cow” name, manatees are herbivores. They graze in shallow waters. Their favorite places are usually waters that are 1-2 meters deep. In terms of shape, manatees in general may weight anywhere between 400 to 500 kg. They can be as long as 2.8 to 3.0 meters. The longest manatees are 3.6 meters long. No doubt, they are the equivalent of cows who roam the land.

Manatees usually swim at speeds of five to 8 kilometers per hour. If the circumstances need it though, they can swim up to 30 kilometers per hour. Manatees, in general, could be found in the rivers and marshes of the Mexican Gulf and the Caribbean Sea. They can also be found in Western Africa and in the Amazon.

During the cold weather, however, they swim to Florida because they cannot endure the cold. They go to the surface of the water after every 20 minutes so they can get air. Manatees in Florida can live up to a length of 60 years. They can also tolerate sea water. The manatees in the Amazon, however, have never been known to get out of fresh water.

The manatees have an upper lip that serves them in the same way as an elephant’s trunk. They use this to take food and also in communicating with other manatees. If you look at their eyes, you would see that their eyelids closed in circular way. A lot of researchers also believe that they can recognize color in their surroundings.

When they communicate with other manatees, they let out a wide array of sounds. Just like dolphins, the level of their intelligence is advanced and they possess a capacity for long-term memory.

They only reproduce once in every two years. This is a very long time for breeding. This is because they spend twelve months for gestation and the mothers will need another 12-18 months in weaning their calves. Because of this and of destructive human practices, their population is dwindling.

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