West Indian Manatee: a two-minute wildlife lesson

Dolphins and Otters · day 7 of 7

Five facts

1. Manatees never run out of teeth: new ones form at the back of the jaw and move forward 1-2 mm a month, like a conveyor belt.
2. Manatees chat in squeaks and screeches, and studies hint that each one may have its own voice that others can recognise.
3. Manatees can't cope for long in water colder than about 20 °C. In winter, Florida manatees crowd around warm water from power plants.
4. The biggest recorded West Indian manatee weighed 1,655 kg and measured 4.6 m, while an average adult weighs 200-600 kg.
5. A calf stays with its mother for up to two years. In that time it learns where to find warm water in winter.

The quiz

1. How fast do a manatee's new teeth move forward?

• 1-2 cm a month
• 1-2 mm a month (correct)
• 1-2 mm a day
• 5-6 mm a week

New teeth migrate forward at 1-2 mm per month.

2. What do studies suggest about each manatee's voice?

• All manatees sound exactly alike
• Only males can make sounds
• It never changes with age
• It may be unique to each one (correct)

Studies hint that each manatee may have its own recognisable voice.

3. Where do Florida manatees gather in winter?

• Deep ocean trenches
• Frozen lakes
• Warm outflows from power plants (correct)
• Cold mangrove bays

In winter they flock to warm-water outflows from power plants.

4. How much did the biggest recorded West Indian manatee weigh?

• 1,655 kg (correct)
• 600 kg
• 900 kg
• 2,400 kg

The biggest recorded individual weighed 1,655 kg.

5. How long does a manatee calf stay with its mother?

• About two weeks
• Up to two years (correct)
• About ten years
• Its whole life

A calf stays with its mother for up to two years before weaning.

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