report on the Northern Manatee -
The Manatee
My report is on the manatee, specifically, the Northern Manatee, better known as the West Indies or West Indian
Manatee. The scientific name of the Northern Manatee is Trichechus Manatus. The Manatee is a versatile animal when it
comes to it's habitat. It lives mostly in shallow salt water, although it has been known to live in freshwater, and
deep salt water. The Northern Manatee's main population is in rivers in Florida and the Caribbean Isles and Sea,
although there are exceptions, such as if the manatee gets hurt, it may go to SeaWorld or places like it, to be healed
and recover. The Northern Manatee can and has adapted to humans in it's habitat. Since the Northern Manatee has no
natural predators, it can live in any shallow salt water, and comes to many areas with live coral reefs.
The Northern Manatee grows inside it's mother for a year or more before the calf is born.
This group of three West Indian manatees (Trichech...
English: Manatee at Merritt Island's National Wild...
English: Manatee at the Sea World Exhibit in Orlan...The calf stays with it's
mother for around two years. At birth the Manatee is a little more than three feet (1 meter) long, and weighs from
25 to 60 pounds. Adult manatees are on average seven to twelve feet in length, although some have been known to grow
up to fifteen feet. The manatee is one of the only marine mammals. Unlike most mammals, the manatee does not have
calves every year. The female manatee has one calf every two to three years. The Northern Manatee swims at an easy
pace of five miles an hour. If the animal is frightened, it swims at a faster pace of fifteen miles an hour. The
manatee eats underwater vegetation, using it's weak front flippers to push the food into their mouth. The manatee
can eat up...