How do manatees breathe

These large, slow-moving marine mammals hang out in coastal areas and rivers where Florida spring-breakers can easily see them and think that it is a good idea to hop on for a ride. All three species of manatee—the Amazonian manatee, West Indian manatee, and West African manatee—and the related dugong are considered vulnerable defined as facing a high risk of extinction in the wild by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

This is due to a variety of threats including boat collisions, hunting, habitat destruction, and toxic red tides. But even slight disturbances to their lifestyles can do irreparable harm. Manatees are typically found in shallow coastal areas and rivers where they feed on sea grass, mangrove leaves, and algae.

These herbivores munch on food for almost half the day, eating ten percent of their body weight in plant mass every day. With weights of up to 1, pounds, that is a whole lot of greenery! They are able to maintain the correct balance in their bodies through an internal regulation system that works with the kidney to make sure salt concentrations never get too high.

It is believed that West Indian manatees require some access to freshwater PDF in order to stay hydrated, but they are able to easily move between the two ecosystems. Warm water is a must for the West Indian and West African manatee species. With low metabolic rates and minimal fat protection from cold water, they stick to water that is 60 degrees or warmer. They may look fat and insulated, but the large body of the manatee is mostly made up of their stomach and intestines!

In colder months, they find their way to warm river tributaries or warm water outputs from power plants. In at least manatees died in Florida due to cold stress from the colder-than-normal winter. Manatees go to the surface of the water every three to five minutes to breathe although they can remain underwater longer, holding their breath for up to 20 minutes. When they do take a breath, 90 percent of the air in their lungs is replaced whereas humans tend to replace about 10 percent.

The lengthy manatee lungs also help them to rise and fall in the water, and spread out the bouyancy very effectively along the length of the body helping them to float. And each of these lungs can exchange air separately. This is a huge benefit, and just works in their favor for any animal that has been hit by a boat and had one of the lungs injured. Though one lung is no longer functional, the animal is still able to survive using the other lung.

There are some animals in the wild that scientists have seen with this injury, and you can see the manatee sort of lists to one side, they're a little crooked in the water. But such a manatee is still using the uninjured lung and they're able to get by with just that one lung exchanging. After a normal breath, exhale.

Then without inhaling again, blow out. It's quite amazing how much more air can be expelled from one's lungs with the extra effort! This short demonstration helps you realize how little air humans exchange during normal breathing.

When you blew out after exhaling, there was still a lot more air in your lungs to exchange. Comparing Your Lungs How are your lungs situated in your body? What shape are they? How does the size of your lungs compare to the size of a manatees? Compare these and other aspects of your lungs to manatee lungs, and summarize the similarities and differences in your journal.

What makes it possible for animals as large as manatees to easily float and move in water? But for the manatees, it makes sense that they sleep unihemispherically because they need to come to the water surface every 20 minutes and a wakeful state is necessary to support the motor functions involved in the up and down movement.

Are you interested in seeing Florida manatees sleeping, resting or grazing? Would you like to swim and interact with these amazing sea cows? We ensure that our guests enjoy their time out in the water, find and interact with manatees, learn as much as possible about these gentle giants and go home with memories of a lifetime. Our Location:. Contact Info:. Phone : — Phone Toll Free : — info swimmingwiththemanatees. Manatee Snorkel Tours Excited to see manatees?

Once we have you properly fitted and instructed on what to expect from the tour, you will get acquainted with the lovable Captain Mike. Snorkel and Scalloping Hunt A fun treasure hunt you can do with friends and family. Scallop hunting is an adventure of a lifetime. River Airboat Rides Take a thrilling ride along the Withalacoochee river and through the swamps looking for the Florida alligator. Manatee Tours 7 Days a Week Enjoy the sight of these docile creatures up close , as you swim with them along the streams of Crystal River, Florida.

Sleeping posture When you arrive in Crystal River in the morning, you will find most manatees wide awake and active. Breathing intervals To sleep, manatees typically lie on their backs or suspend themselves upside down in the water and get power naps between regular intervals of breathing.

References: Save the Manatee. Jan 23,