VIDEO: Manatees, Gentle Giants of the Sea Spend Half the Day Sleeping
By Space Coast Daily // July 23, 2015
Did You Know?
ABOVE VIDEO: Manatees are large, fully aquatic and mostly herbivorous marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows. (outdoortravelchannel.tv Video)
Manatees are large, fully aquatic and mostly herbivorous marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows.
Manatees spend approximately 50% of the day sleeping submerged, surfacing for air regularly at intervals of less than 20 minutes.
The main causes of death for manatees are human-related issues, such as habitat destruction and human objects. Natural causes of death include adverse temperatures and disease.
Today, manatees are endangered.
The oldest manatee in captivity is Snooty, at the South Florida Museum’s Parker Manatee Aquarium in Bradenton, Florida.
Born at the Miami Aquarium and Tackle Company on July 21, 1948 (age 66), Snooty was one of the first recorded captive manatee births.
Manatees can grow up to 880 to 1,210 pounds, and length of 9.2 to 9.8 feet, with maxim of 12 feet and 3,913 pounds (the females tend to be larger and heavier).
