How Long Can A Manatee Hold Its Breath?
Manatees can hold their breath for approximately 20 minutes, however they regularly breathe every few minutes (Ridgeway 1985). Don’t worry if you see a manatee go under water and not come directly back to the surface. They often move under water and surface at a different location out of eyesight. Do manatees leave “footprints”? When manatees swim they create oval shaped ripples referred to as footprints. This is a great way to spot manatees, especially since they camouflage so well with their surroundings. Keep an eye open for manatee footprints. Why does algae grow on manatees? Manatees are slow moving mammals that frequent the water’s surface. Algae thrive in wet areas with lots of sunlight, which makes the manatee’s back an ideal breeding ground for algae. Would you like to have algae on your body? It may look uncomfortable to us, but manatees don’t seem to mind the slimy stuff. Algae may help to block out harmful rays from the sun. Don’t forget your algae next time you go catch so
