Manatees are large, slow-moving marine mammals, often called sea cows. They belong to the order Sirenia, which also includes dugongs and the extinct Steller’s sea cow. These mammals are found in warm, shallow waters along coasts and rivers in regions like the Caribbean, Gulf of Mexico, and West Africa. As herbivores, manatees feed on various aquatic plants.
Manatees have a diverse diet, eating whatever vegetation is available to them. Their nutritional intake is influenced by their environment and the time of year. They consume over 60 species of submerged, floating, emergent, and shoreline plants.
What Do Manatees Eat?
Manatees are herbivorous marine mammals that primarily feed on seagrass and aquatic vegetation. Their large, flexible lips and split upper lip help them grasp and pull foliage into their mouths. While they sometimes eat algae and invertebrates, their diet is mainly composed of seagrasses.
In their saltwater habitats, manatees consume marine algae, sea grass, turtle grass, shoal grass, and sea clover. In freshwater environments, they feed on pickerelweed, water lettuce, hydrilla, celery, alligator weed, hyacinth, tape grass, and musk grass.
With a slow metabolism, manatees require significant amounts of vegetation to meet their daily energy needs. An adult manatee can consume up to 10-15% of its body weight in vegetation each day.
7 Things Manatees Like to Eat
Manatees are herbivores that feed on various aquatic plants. Here are seven things they enjoy eating:
1: Seagrasses
Seagrasses are flowering plants that live underwater in shallow marine environments like estuaries, bays, lagoons, and coral reefs. They create extensive meadows that provide vital habitats and food for many aquatic animals, such as manatees, sea turtles, dugongs, and various fish species.
Manatees feed on different types of seagrasses, including turtle grass, manatee grass, and shoal grass.
2: Algae
Manatees eat various types of algae, such as red, green, and blue-green algae. Algae are photosynthetic organisms, ranging from single-celled microorganisms to large seaweeds. They thrive in nearly all aquatic environments, from freshwater to marine habitats. Algae are essential to aquatic ecosystems, acting as primary producers by converting sunlight into organic matter through photosynthesis.
3: Aquatic Plants
Manatees consume a variety of aquatic plants, such as water hyacinth, hydrilla, and lettuce. These plants grow fully or partially in water. They thrive in different aquatic environments, including freshwater, brackish water, and marine habitats.
4: Mangrove Leaves
Manatees also feed on the leaves of mangrove trees, which grow along coastlines in tropical regions. Mangroves are salt-tolerant trees found in coastal intertidal zones of tropical and subtropical areas. Their specialized leaves help them survive harsh, salty environments. These leaves are thick, leathery, and waxy, which reduces water loss and protects them from the sun’s heat.
5: Water Weeds
Manatees enjoy eating waterweeds like coontail and eelgrass. Waterweeds are aquatic plants found in freshwater environments such as ponds, lakes, and rivers. Examples include Eurasian watermilfoil, curly-leaf pondweed, and hydrilla.
In many regions, waterweeds are invasive, as they can quickly overgrow and outcompete native plants for resources, resulting in a decline in biodiversity.
6: Saltmarsh Plants
Manatees also feed on salt marsh plants like saltwort, sea lavender, and marsh elder. These plants thrive in intertidal zones, where saltwater and freshwater mix, including estuaries, bays, and salt marshes.
7: Macroalgae
Manatees also feed on macroalgae, including Sargassum, a brown seaweed often found in the open ocean. Macroalgae, or seaweeds, are multicellular, photosynthetic plants that thrive in marine and brackish waters. They vary in size and shape, from tiny, thread-like species to large, leafy or bushy plants.
How Much Do Manatees Eat?
Manatees eat a significant amount to meet their daily energy needs, which vary based on size, activity, and metabolism. As herbivores, they primarily consume seagrasses, aquatic plants, and algae.
Adult manatees typically eat between 5% and 10% of their body weight in vegetation daily. This means:
- An adult manatee, weighing approximately 1,000 pounds (450 kilograms), consumes between 50 and 100 pounds (22 to 45 kilograms) of vegetation each day.
- Juvenile manatees consume a larger portion of their body weight in vegetation compared to adults. In some cases, this can be up to 15%. This higher intake is necessary for their growth and development
Manatees are a protected species, and feeding them in the wild is illegal. Doing so can disrupt their natural feeding habits and change their diet.
How Do Manatees Find Food?
Manatees rely on their sense of smell and touch to find food in the water. Their sensitive whiskers, called vibrissae, are located on their upper lip. These whiskers help them detect vegetation and sense changes in water currents. Equipped with nerve endings, they can feel even the slightest water vibrations.
While feeding, manatees move slowly along the seafloor or near the surface, using their flippers and tail for manoeuvring. Their flexible lips and prehensile upper lip help them grasp and pull up vegetation.
Manatees also feed in areas with strong water flow, which brings more vegetation within reach. They’ve been observed using their body to block currents and create calmer feeding zones.
Additionally, manatees have good spatial memory and can recall food sources’ locations. This ability allows them to return to areas with abundant vegetation, saving time and energy in their search for food.
How Often Do Manatees Eat?
Manatees are herbivores and eat 5-10% of their body weight in vegetation daily. Their feeding frequency varies based on age, size, and food availability in their habitat.
Adult manatees may feed up to eight hours a day, while younger or smaller individuals may feed more often. They are opportunistic feeders, eating whenever food is available.
Manatees feed throughout the day and night, taking breaks to rest and digest. They can eat while swimming or floating and consume a variety of aquatic plants, such as seagrasses, algae, and other vegetation.
When Do Manatees Eat?
Manatees feed throughout the day and night, taking breaks to rest and digest their food. They can eat while swimming or floating, consuming various aquatic plants like seagrasses, algae, and other vegetation.
Feeding times can vary based on factors such as food availability, water temperature, and season. For instance, in winter, manatees may feed more often to maintain body weight and stay warm.
Adult manatees generally feed up to eight hours daily, while younger individuals may feed more frequently. As opportunistic feeders, manatees eat whenever food is available, regardless of the time of day.
Conclusion
Manatees are herbivorous marine mammals that mainly feed on aquatic plants, including seagrasses, water hyacinths, and algae. They also consume other vegetation, such as mangrove leaves and freshwater plants like water weeds.
These creatures favour specific seagrasses, like turtle grass and manatee grass, which are nutrient-rich and easy to digest. Additionally, they eat the leaves of red mangroves and other salt marsh plants. Their diet is crucial for their biology and survival in aquatic environments.
FAQ
Do manatees eat lettuce or cabbage?
Manatees are herbivores that feed on a variety of aquatic plants. Their diet includes water plants, lettuce, and cabbage.
Do manatees eat bananas?
Manatees are herbivores, feeding mainly on aquatic plants like seagrasses, algae, and other vegetation. They inhabit both freshwater and saltwater environments.
What is a manatee’s favorite food?
Manatees do not have a specific favourite food but tend to prefer seagrasses over other aquatic plants. They also consume algae and various types of vegetation in their habitat.
Do manatees fast?
Manatees do not fast, but they can survive without food for several days or weeks if needed. With a slow metabolism, they can store fat reserves to use as energy when food is scarce.