Facts about a manatees family life and offspring?

Answer 1

Manatees are large aquatic mammals. They can grow to 12 feet and 3000 lbs. They eat 10-15 % of their body weight daily in seagrasses. They can have babies about once every 2-5 years, babies will stay with the mom from 2-5 years depending on the environment they live in. Harsher environments the baby will stay longer with the mom. Babies are about 40-60 pounds at birth and average 3-4 feet long. Manatees can stay submerged for up to 20 minutes and can swim at speeds to 20 MPH in spurts. They must have water temperatur above 68 degress in order to survive for lengthy periods of time. They are not fat animals (they eat grass), they are mostly muscle, organs and large bone structure. Their greatest threat is loss of habitat and boat collisions. Propellers generally don't kill manatees, blunt force trauma from boat keels, engine foots and skegs are what does the damage breaking ribs, puncturing lungs and basically drowning them. Severe lacerations from props can kill them due to the open wounds and infection.