Excerpt
Chapter 1: Meet the Manatee
Manatees are some of the most unusual animals in the ocean. They don’t have sharp teeth like sharks. They don’t swim fast like dolphins. They don’t even have scales like fish. Instead, they glide through the water slowly, using their powerful tails, munching on plants all day long. Because of their gentle nature and big, round bodies, they’re sometimes called “sea cows.” But they aren’t cows at all.
Manatees are mammals, just like people, dogs, and whales. That means they have to breathe air, even though they live in the water. Every few minutes, a manatee will float to the surface, take a deep breath through its nostrils, and then sink back down to keep swimming. If they’re resting, they can hold their breath for about 20 minutes, but when they’re active, they have to come up every few minutes for more air. Even though they don’t have gills like fish, they’re built for life in the water.
Their bodies are big and round, covered in thick, grayish skin. Some manatees have scars or scratches on their backs from getting too close to boats. They don’t have fur like a dog, but they do have tiny, bristly hairs all over their bodies. These hairs help them feel what’s happening around them, kind of like whiskers on a cat. Speaking of whiskers, manatees have those too! Right on their faces. Their whiskers, called vibrissae, are extra sensitive and help them explore their surroundings, especially when they’re searching for food.
Manatees love to eat. In fact, they spend most of their day doing it. They mainly eat plants like seagrass and algae, and they can munch on over a hundred pounds of food in a single day. That’s as much as a grown-up human weighs! Because of their plant-based diet, they don’t have big, sharp teeth. Instead, their teeth are flat and perfect for grinding up tough plants. And here’s something surprising—manatees grow new teeth throughout their entire lives. As their old teeth wear down from all that chewing, new ones grow in the back of their mouths and slowly move forward, like a conveyor belt.
Manatees live in warm, shallow waters. They’re most commonly found in places like Florida, the Caribbean, and parts of South America and Africa. Unlike fish, they don’t do well in cold water. If the temperature drops too much, they can get sick, which is why they often travel to warmer spots in the winter. Some even swim up into freshwater springs where the water stays warm all year round. Others gather near power plants, where warm water is released into the ocean.
Even though they’re huge, manatees don’t have many natural predators. Sharks and alligators usually leave them alone because manatees aren’t very meaty. They’re mostly made of fat, which helps keep them warm. Their biggest threat isn’t from other animals—it’s from humans. Many manatees have been hurt by boats because they move so slowly and don’t always notice when one is coming. To help keep them safe, people put up special signs in the water telling boaters to slow down in areas where manatees live.
Manatees are related to some surprising animals. Their closest relatives aren’t dolphins or whales—it’s elephants! Even though elephants live on land and manatees live in the water, they share similar features. They both have thick, wrinkly skin, and they both have small, finger-like structures at the ends of their trunks or snouts that help them grab food. Manatees don’t have trunks like elephants, but they do use their flexible lips to grab and pull food toward their mouths.
Manatees don’t move fast, but they’re strong swimmers. They use their big, paddle-shaped tails to push themselves forward, and their front flippers help them steer. Even though they look like they’re floating lazily most of the time, they can actually swim pretty well when they need to. If they get startled, they can kick their tails and speed up for a short burst. But most of the time, they just take it easy, drifting through the water, eating, and occasionally playing with each other.
Manatees are some of the most unusual animals in the ocean. They don’t have sharp teeth like sharks. They don’t swim fast like dolphins. They don’t even have scales like fish. Instead, they glide through the water slowly, using their powerful tails, munching on plants all day long. Because of their gentle nature and big, round bodies, they’re sometimes called “sea cows.” But they aren’t cows at all.
Manatees are mammals, just like people, dogs, and whales. That means they have to breathe air, even though they live in the water. Every few minutes, a manatee will float to the surface, take a deep breath through its nostrils, and then sink back down to keep swimming. If they’re resting, they can hold their breath for about 20 minutes, but when they’re active, they have to come up every few minutes for more air. Even though they don’t have gills like fish, they’re built for life in the water.
Their bodies are big and round, covered in thick, grayish skin. Some manatees have scars or scratches on their backs from getting too close to boats. They don’t have fur like a dog, but they do have tiny, bristly hairs all over their bodies. These hairs help them feel what’s happening around them, kind of like whiskers on a cat. Speaking of whiskers, manatees have those too! Right on their faces. Their whiskers, called vibrissae, are extra sensitive and help them explore their surroundings, especially when they’re searching for food.
Manatees love to eat. In fact, they spend most of their day doing it. They mainly eat plants like seagrass and algae, and they can munch on over a hundred pounds of food in a single day. That’s as much as a grown-up human weighs! Because of their plant-based diet, they don’t have big, sharp teeth. Instead, their teeth are flat and perfect for grinding up tough plants. And here’s something surprising—manatees grow new teeth throughout their entire lives. As their old teeth wear down from all that chewing, new ones grow in the back of their mouths and slowly move forward, like a conveyor belt.
Manatees live in warm, shallow waters. They’re most commonly found in places like Florida, the Caribbean, and parts of South America and Africa. Unlike fish, they don’t do well in cold water. If the temperature drops too much, they can get sick, which is why they often travel to warmer spots in the winter. Some even swim up into freshwater springs where the water stays warm all year round. Others gather near power plants, where warm water is released into the ocean.
Even though they’re huge, manatees don’t have many natural predators. Sharks and alligators usually leave them alone because manatees aren’t very meaty. They’re mostly made of fat, which helps keep them warm. Their biggest threat isn’t from other animals—it’s from humans. Many manatees have been hurt by boats because they move so slowly and don’t always notice when one is coming. To help keep them safe, people put up special signs in the water telling boaters to slow down in areas where manatees live.
Manatees are related to some surprising animals. Their closest relatives aren’t dolphins or whales—it’s elephants! Even though elephants live on land and manatees live in the water, they share similar features. They both have thick, wrinkly skin, and they both have small, finger-like structures at the ends of their trunks or snouts that help them grab food. Manatees don’t have trunks like elephants, but they do use their flexible lips to grab and pull food toward their mouths.
Manatees don’t move fast, but they’re strong swimmers. They use their big, paddle-shaped tails to push themselves forward, and their front flippers help them steer. Even though they look like they’re floating lazily most of the time, they can actually swim pretty well when they need to. If they get startled, they can kick their tails and speed up for a short burst. But most of the time, they just take it easy, drifting through the water, eating, and occasionally playing with each other.