The Florida Manatee
(Trichechus manatus lattrostris)

Coutesy of
Florida Department of Environmental Protection

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The Florida manatee lives in  brackish, salt and freshwater coastal areas around Florida.  The adult manatee weighs around 1,000 pounds and is about 10 feet long.  At birth, calves weigh about 60-80 punds.   The manatee is a plant-eating mammal (herbivore) that must come to the surface to breathe air every three to five minutes. Like all mammals, it has hait on its body, nurses its young and is warm-blooded.  Manatees can live to be about 50 to 60 years old.

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The Manatees' mammary glands (milk glands) and teats (one per side) are located behind the fore limbs. The milk glands have no storage sacs (like cattle and goats) so manatee calves suckle frequently at short intervals

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For more manatee information:

www.dep.state.fl.us/psm/
or
www.fmri.usf.edu

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