Manatees spend six to eight hours each day feeding. Manatees feed on more than 60 species of aquatic or semi-aquatic plants including sea grasses, mangrove leaves and water hyacinths. Manatee burn a great deal of energy to maintain their body temperature. They eat 8 to 11 percent of their body weight each day to replenish their energy.

Straight from the Mouth of Manatee...
Manatees feed only on plants. All thier teeth are molars used for chewing and grinding the food. Many of the plants they eat contain sand and shells. As a manatee's teeth wear down and fall out, they are replaced by new molars that push the other teeth forward to fill in the empty spaces. These are called "marching molars."

Favorite food
Seagrasses, including manatee grass, are a favorite food of manatees. Seagrasses have evolved to accommodate grazing by manatees, turtles, waterfowl and other animals.

Did you know?
A 1,000-pound adult manatee eats up to 100 pounds of vegetation a day. Manatees spend six to eight hours a day feeding.

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Show me all markers in:  Fort Myers, FL  |  Lee County  |  33905  |  Florida  |  United States of America

Relatives and Relationships
Tracking Manatees
Boating with Wildlife
Responsible Fishing
Mangroves - Trees of the Sea
Scrub Oak Habitat
Pine Flatwoods Habitat
Manatee Young
Other Visitors to Manatee Park
Why do Manatee Come to Manatee Park ?

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