Manatees: The Gentle Giants Mistaken for Mermaids

When sailors first reported seeing mermaids, they were almost certainly looking at manatees. These slow, gentle, round-bodied sea mammals have captured human hearts for centuries — and today they need our help more than ever.

What Is a Manatee?

Manatees (order Sirenia) are large, fully aquatic marine mammals — sometimes called "sea cows" for their peaceful, grazing lifestyle. There are three species: the West Indian manatee, the Amazonian manatee, and the African manatee. They are most closely related to elephants — not to whales or dolphins.

How Big Are Manatees?

Adult manatees typically grow to 8–13 feet long and weigh 800–1,300 lbs, though some reach 3,500 lbs. Despite their large size, they are entirely harmless — they have no teeth for biting and no natural defenses beyond their bulk. They are pure herbivores, spending up to 8 hours a day grazing on seagrass and aquatic plants, consuming up to 10% of their body weight daily.

Why Do Manatees Need Warm Water?

Manatees have very little body fat compared to other marine mammals and cannot survive in water below 68°F (20°C). In winter, they congregate around natural warm springs in Florida and near power plant warm-water discharges. Climate change is affecting these warm-water refuges, threatening their survival during cold snaps.

What Threatens Manatees?

The biggest threat to manatees is boat strikes — nearly every adult manatee in Florida has propeller scars on its back. Manatees swim slowly (3–5 mph) near the surface to breathe and are frequently hit by motorboats. Other threats include harmful algal blooms (red tide) that poison seagrass, cold stress, and habitat loss. They are listed as Vulnerable globally.

Amazing Manatee Facts

• Manatees replace their teeth throughout their lives — new teeth grow from the back and move forward as front ones wear out, just like elephants.
• They are surprisingly agile swimmers despite their bulk, able to do rolls, somersaults, and swim upside down.
• Manatees communicate with squeaks, chirps, and whistles — mothers and calves stay in constant vocal contact.
• They must surface to breathe every 3–5 minutes while active, or up to 20 minutes while resting.
• Baby manatees are born underwater and swim to the surface for their first breath.