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Space Coast MANATEE FIELD GUIDE

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Space Coast MANATEE FIELD GUIDE Florida’s Original WATER PLAYGROUND THE INDIAN RIVER FLORIDA MANATEES: LAGOON FLORIDA MANATEE HABITAT: MIGRATION MANATEES: A MEET THE THE INDIAN PATTERNS SENTINEL SPECIES The Indian River Lagoon provides Florida’s FLORIDA MANATEE RIVER LAGOON S H Space Coast visitors and residents many T N O recreational opportunities, from boating M Florida manatees are MANATEE FIELD GUIDE Florida manatees are gentle, slow- R Florida manatees have a very and fishing to paddling, waterskiing, Over 70% of the Indian River E migratory mammals. M moving aquatic mammals with elongated M birding, wildlife viewing, and more. The U special place in the ecosystem. Lagoon is located on Florida’s S In summer months, round bodies and flat paddle-shaped lagoon is home to many species including Space Coast. manatees have been tails. Despite their large size, they have D Due to their large size and the vast amount of dolphins, otters, sea turtles, egrets, N spotted as far west as U relatively little body fat and migrate O R aquatic vegetation they consume, manatees herons, spoonbills, pelicans, seatrout, - R One of the most diverse A E Texas and as far north as Y seasonally in search of warm water. have a significant influence on the structure redfish, tarpon, snook, sharks, and of Massachusetts. Shallow, slow-moving rivers, estuaries, estuaries in North America, and function of their environments. course, manatees. To learn more about Discover saltwater bays, canals, and coastal areas the Indian River Lagoon recreational opportunities and what you is home to thousands of During the winter, migrating manatees By feeding on aquatic plants, are all great places to find manatees. can to do help the lagoon, visit plant and animal species, traditionally return to Florida seeking manatees clear waterways and warmer waters. MANATEES Sometimes called “sea including nearly a third of allow other fish and aquatic visitspacecoast.com our nation’s manatees. animals to thrive. Manatees play cows” due to their size Many manatees stay year-round in lagoonloyal.com and vegetarian diet, environments like the Indian River Lagoon. a crucial role in the nutrient cycle and their grazing is an effective manatees thrive in Manatees can often be seen gathered Florida’s coastal together and socializing near warm-water form of mosquito and weed control. For a digital waters and natural springs, in shallow canals, or springs, particularly near power plant outfalls map version where seagrass and other warm-water Manatees feed on seagrasses and 2,100+ 2,200+ mangroves, two of the crucial Scan this code beds or other aquatic discharges, which have with your device vegetation are present. PLANT SPECIES ANIMAL SPECIES become permanent components of the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem. Manatees are uniquely winter destinations suited to Florida, where for manatees in Seagrasses and mangroves INFORMATION SOURCES they can feed on more than 60 different search of warm provide spawning, nursery, and myfwc.com species of aquatic plants. Titusville temperatures. FLORIDA’S foraging habitat for many aquatic fws.gov SPACE COAST species including fish, seahorses, crabs, nationalgeographic.com The Florida manatee is the INDIAN noaa.gov RIVER shrimp, scallops, clams, and more. Essential Cape Canaveral savethemanatee.org world’s largest manatee. LAGOON Cocoa to the health of the lagoon, seagrasses are Rocledge Cocoa Beach smithsonianmag.com They are the largest 68º+ negatively affected by man-made pollution, seaworld.org MANATEES REQUIRE WATER which can block sunlight from reaching herbivore in the sea. Satellite Beach TEMPERATURES OVER 68°F (20°C) Indian Harbour Beach 72 Melbourne seagrass and prevent healthy growth. Indialantic MILES Manatees can live in fresh, brackish, or Melbourne Beach NORTH TO Palm Bay Reductions in seagrass or mangrove salt water. Many Florida manatees live IDEAL MANATEE HABITAT: SOUTH Malabar habitat affect the ability of manatees to find year-round in the shallow, brackish water Grant-Valaria • Warm water (at least 68ºF or 20ºC) adequate food sources, which is an indicator of the Indian River Lagoon, where they • Plentiful seagrass and aquatic vegetation of environmental changes that can impact spend most of their days eating, resting, INDIANINDIAN RIVER RIVER LAGOON LAGOON • Fresh water sources such as rivers or springs their entire interdependent ecosystem. investigating objects, and socializing with other manatees. • Channels at least 6 ft (3m) deep FUNDED IN PART BY BREVARD COUNTY’S 1/2 CENT SALES TAX INITIATIVE TDCL+T 03.21 OF THE US MANATEE POPULATION Keep reading to learn more about what you lives in or migrates through the lagoon can do to enjoy and protect Florida’s manatees. Florida’s Original ⅓ WATER PLAYGROUND Space Coast MANATEE FIELD GUIDE Are What Manatees MANATEE FACTS are Manatee MANATEE HISTORY Intelligent? “Footprints”? Manatees have the smallest Manatees are agile swimmers. When manatees swim they brain of all mammals in relation They can swim upside down, vertically, Are manatees native to Florida? How do manatees spend their time? create oval shaped ripples to their body size. Despite having and do somersaults and barrel rolls. Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) are referred to as footprints. This is small and smooth brains, these one of four living species in the order Sirenia. Scientists a great way to spot manatees, EAT REST friendly mammals have shown believe modern manatees have inhabited Florida waters especially since they some of the same problem- camouflage so well with Can for over one million years. 6-8 2-12 solving skills as Manatees have unusual necks. Do Manatees their surroundings. Manatees See ADULTS CAN REACH ADULTS CAN WEIGH HOURS PER DAY HOURS PER DAY dolphins. Manatees are the only aquatic mammals with six Have Teeth? Underwater? Are manatees related to mermaids? cervical vertebrae instead of seven. To turn its 8-13 ft 800-1,300 Manatees have 4 sets of 6-8 Instead of eyelids or eyelashes, Ancient sailors mistook manatees for mermaids. molars and a never-ending supply manatees have a special head, a manatee has to move its entire body. (2.6-4.3 M) POUNDS On his voyages to the New World, Christopher IN LENGTH (363 - 590 KG) of teeth. Their vegetarian diet membrane that protects their eyes Columbus claimed he spotted several mermaids in contains tiny granules of sand, which and allows them to see underwater. Manatees have toenails. eventually causes teeth to be worn Manatees can see in both dim and the waters of what is now the Caribbean. Evidence shows TRAVELING, INVESTIGATING OBJECTS, Manatees have 3-4 tiny nails at the end of each down. As their front molars wear bright lighting and are near-sighted. these mystical mermaids were actually manatees. & SOCIALIZING WITH OTHER MANATEES flipper, similar to an elephant’s toenails. Researchers down, they fall out and the next Studies suggest they can see speculate the toenails may assist manatees when set move forward into place. in a limited color palette Do manatees have predators? navigating or feeding in shallow water. CAN EAT UP TO EAT UP TO including blue, green, Manatees do not have natural and gray. predators. They are rarely targeted lbs How do manatees communicate? Manatee ears look like pinhole dimples. 150 60 by killer whales, crocodiles, (363 - 590 KG) PLANT SPECIES INCLUDING Manatees communicate using a wide range of sounds Manatees ears can be hard to see. Look for small alligators, or sharks. The largest OF FOOD PER DAY turtle grass, manatee including chirps, squeaks and whistles. They also pinhole dimples 4-6 inches behind each eye. threat to manatees is human grass, shoal grass, communicate through touching, smelling, tasting, and Manatees can hear well, but studies suggest OR UP TO activity. Manatees were once hunted mangrove leaves, various visual signals. they hear at higher frequencies than humans. for their meat and oil. Florida passed 10% algae, water hyacinth, Researchers can tell how old a manatee is by Do its first protections in 1893 by prohibiting OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT acorns, and hydrilla Are manatees social animals? counting the annual growth rings in the ear bone. Manatees How Do manatee hunting. Today, human and natural threats such Manatees swim individually, in pairs, and also Have Whiskers? Manatees Eat? as cold stress, habitat loss, boat collisions and algal gather casually in groups. They have been observed Keep an eye out for noses. Manatees have thousands Manatees use their front blooms threaten the lives of many manatees each year. participating in seemingly playful activities such as of thick, whisker-like hairs flippers and large, flexible lips When manatees surface for air, they often bring bodysurfing and follow-the-leader. When bodysurfing called vibrissae on their faces to gather, grasp and manipulate only their nostrils above water. Manatee nostrils Are manatees endangered? on strong currents, manatees often nuzzle one another and bodies, which help them food. Their split upper lip has close automatically when going back underwater. AVERAGE LIFESPAN CAN SWIM Florida manatees were added to the US Endangered and vocalize between rides. sense and explore their world. right and left sides that move Species List in 1967. Their status was changed from 40 YEARS 20 MPH Manatee facial whiskers independently, which helps Manatees are related to elephants. may be as sensitive as endangered to threatened in 2017. IN THE WILD (32 KM/H) move food into place. Both manatees and elephants have tough skin, IN SHORT BURSTS When playing follow- our fingers! Today’s estimated population of What bristle-like hair covering their entire body, teeth that over 6,000 Florida manatees is the-leader, two or more Why Do Color are are continuously being replaced, and toenails on a dramatic turnaround from CAN STAY SUBMERGED Manatees Travel in Manatees? each forelimb. 3-5 MPH manatees move together Pairs? the 1970s, when just a few Manatees have finely-wrinkled, 20 min (32 KM/H) in a single file formation Young manatees, called calves, hundred remained.
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