Manatee Junction^TM

Sirenia Vitals & Statistics

Anatomy

Shape: Spindle-shaped, elliptical in cross section, with rounded, paddle-like tail and two short front limbs with three to four fingernails. Tiny eyes, located on the sides of the Florida Manatee's earless head, are situated above a large whisker-covered, double nostril snout. The manatee's lips are very flexible and are used along with the front limbs to help move food into the manatee's mouth.
Color: Gray to brown skin (with tiny hairs). Algae may grow on rough skin and effect the coloring.
Length: 10 feet (3 meters) to 13 feet (3.9 meters)
Weight: 1,200 lbs (500 kgs) to 3,500 pounds (1,500 kgs)
Teeth: Manatees have up to eight molars in two top and two bottom rows of teeth. The food the manatee eats is very tough on their teeth. As the manatee's teeth wear away they are replaced with new teeth which "march" forward from the back of it's mouth. Only a species of kangaroo has a similar horizontal tooth replacement process.

All text and photographs on these pages are (c) Copyright 1995-97 by Shannon Clyde. All rights reserved. Manny The Manatee and Manatee Junction are trademarks and are the exclusive property of Shannon Clyde. All other service marks, trademarks and registered trademarks are the property of their respective companies.