Have you ever heard of a manatee? These fascinating creatures are mammals that live in warm oceans and rivers. Manatees are gentle and move very slowly, spending most of their time munching on sea grass. Even if you’ve seen pictures of these unusual animals, there are some amazing facts about them that might surprise you!
Manatees are sometimes called “sea cows” because they’re big, slow, and love to eat plants. But did you know they’re actually related to elephants? Both manatees and elephants come from the same group of land animals that lived over 50 million years ago, after the dinosaurs disappeared. Over time, some of these animals evolved into elephants, while others became manatees, living in the water.
Just like elephants, manatees have thick, gray skin and not much hair. While they don’t have trunks, manatees have big, flexible lips that help them tear apart sea grass and eat it, similar to how elephants use their trunks. Manatees are also quite heavy, with adults weighing up to 1,000 pounds—that’s more than 20 of you!
Another cool fact about manatees is that they grow new teeth throughout their lives! Their old teeth fall out to make room for new ones, just like when you lose your baby teeth. Manatees are herbivores, which means they only eat plants. They spend about six to eight hours a day eating, but their food often has tiny pieces of sand in it, which wears their teeth down. Luckily, manatees always have new teeth growing in to replace the old ones.
Here’s a fun fact: Manatees might have inspired the legend of mermaids! A long time ago, explorers like Christopher Columbus reported seeing strange, half-human, half-fish creatures in the sea. Scientists now think these explorers were actually seeing manatees! While manatees don’t look much like the little mermaid, they do swim gracefully through the water, sometimes even upside down or doing somersaults.
So, if you’re ever lucky enough to see a manatee in real life, you’ll know you’re looking at a graceful, toothy relative of elephants—not a mermaid!
If you’re curious to learn more about ocean animals or anything else, feel free to ask a grown-up to help you leave a comment or send an email to [email protected]. Thanks for joining us on SciShow Kids! See you next time!
Manatee and Elephant Connection: Draw a picture of a manatee and an elephant side by side. Look closely at their features and think about how they are similar and different. Share your drawing with a friend or family member and explain what makes manatees and elephants relatives. Can you think of any other animals that might be related in surprising ways?
Teeth Time! Manatees have teeth that keep growing. Try this fun activity: Take a piece of clay or playdough and shape it into a manatee’s mouth. Use small pebbles or beads to represent teeth. As you pretend to eat sea grass (you can use strips of paper), notice how the “teeth” wear down. Replace them with new “teeth” to see how manatees keep their mouths ready for munching!
Mermaid Mystery: Imagine you are an explorer like Christopher Columbus. Write a short story or draw a comic strip about your adventure at sea when you first spot a “mermaid” (a manatee). How do you describe what you see? What makes you realize it’s not a mermaid but a gentle manatee? Share your story or comic with your class or family.
