Size:  Typically 9 feet long, weighing 1,000 pounds. Can grow as large as 13 feet, weighing more that 3,000 pounds.

Behavior:  Gentle, slow moving. Most of thier time is spent eating, resting, and in travel. Often shy and reclusive. No system of defence and completely harmless.

sight:  Depth perseption may be limited. can defferentiate colors.

Hearing:  Can hear very well despite the absence or external ear lobes.

Communication:  Emit sounds that are within human auditory range. They make sounds such as squeaks and squeals when frightened, playing, or communicating, particulary between cow and calf.

Breathing:  Nostrils on upper surface of snout close tightly like valves when submerged. Surfaces to breath every few minutes when active; every 10 to 15 minutes when resting.

habitat:  They can be found in shallow, slow moving rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals, and coastal areas, particulary where seagrass beds flourish.

Range:  Within the United States they are consentrated in Florida during the winter, but can be found in summer months as far west as Louisiana and as far north as Virginia and the Carolinas. The West Indian manatee can also be found in the coastal and inland waterways of Central and South America as far south as Recife, Brazil.

Food Source:  Aquatic plants. Manatees are completely herbivorous and can eat 10-15% of their body weight daily.

Reproduction: Females are probably not reproductively mature until 5 to 9 years old and males not until 6 to 9 years old. it is believed that one calf is born every 2 to 5 years. Twins are rare in the wild. Gestation period is around 13 months.

By swimming,boating,or diving in Florida's inland waters, you may be endangering the life of the West Indian manatee which is protected by federal and state laws. The marine Mammal Protection act of 1973 and the Endangered Act of 1973 make it illegal to harass, capture or kill any marine mammal-including the manatee. In addition,the Florida Manatee Sanctuary Act states: "IT IS UNLAWFUL FOR ANY PERSON, AT ANY TIME, BY ANY MEANS, INTENTIONALLY OR NEGLIGENTLY, TO ANNOY, MOLEST, HARASS, OR DISTURBANY MANATEE."

Manatees can be observed and water related activities can be accomplished without violating the provisions of these three acts. The following guidelines are designed to help you better undwerstand these regulations and explain how you can have a memorable experiance while protecting the manatees.

1.Do not enter designated/posted santuaries for any reason !

2. Operate boat at idle/no wake speed when in areas known to have manatees present or when observations indicate manatees might be present.

Note: Observations which indicate manatees might be present in the areaa include:observing a swirl at the surface of the water, observing the back sticking out of the water and/or observing the snout of and animal or hearing the animal exhale when it surfaces.

3.Avoid harassing manatees. harassment is defined as any activity which alters the animals natural behavioral characteristics; including:

• approaching a manatee before the animal first approaches and touches you .
• actively pursuing/chasing (swimming after) or cornering a manatee while swimming or diving.
• poking, probing, stabbing a manatee at any time with any object. This includes but is not limited to a persons hand or feet.
• any activity which would separate or single out an individual from a group.
• any activity which would separate a cow from her calf or vice-versa.
• any attemp to snag, hook, hold, grab, pinch, or ride a manatee.
• any attempt to feed a manatee.

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