Florida Manatees

FloridaManatees This picture is from All About Manatees book by Jim Arnosky By Blair F.

Table Of Contents • Where do they live? Page 1 • What do they eat? Page 2 • What do they look like? Page 3 • Who are their enemies? Page 4 • Physical Characteristics? Page 5 • Fun Facts Page 6 • This picture is from a post card from the Moat Aquarium in Florida

Introduction • Chomp, Chomp… That’s the sound of the Florida Manatees eating some lettuce at the Moat Aquarium. At the Moat Aquarium they keep animals that once lived in the ocean that got hurt or the moat took them for the manatees safety. Some of the animals include Florida Manatees! I was shocked to see those super huge animals here, I mean how could they get hurt? Can’t they hurt you? If you would like to learn how these animals live read this and you’ll find out!  • This picture is from Our Wild World Manatees By Kathy Feeney

habitat • Where do Manatees live? • Manatees can live in many waters that is 68 or more degrees Fahrenheit. Manatees live in places like Florida's costal waters during the winters, shallow waters on coast lines and in channels. There are a lot of them in Florida's rivers and in the ocean. They cannot survive in water below 68 degrees Fahrenheit. Which means they have to stay in warm water • This picture is from a post card from the Moat Aquarium in Florida.

I’m HUNGRY! What’s coming in my belly? Manatees are herbivores. They eat marine and fresh water plants, sea grasses, and sometimes leafs. They NEVER eat fish or marine life. If a human being is swimming in water that manatees live in there will be NO danger what so ever. Manatees eat over 10% of their body weight. They also eat more than anything else they do. This picture is from Our Wild World Manatees by Kathy Feeney

This is me? Do I really look like that? Manatees have tough grayish skin. When my animal grows up it weighs in the range of 1,500-1,800 pounds. They live to the age 50-60 years old. In the wild, when a calf (baby manatee) is born, it is usually 3-4 feet long and weighs in the range of 50-70 pounds This picture is from Manatee Winter By Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld

Why don’t people like me? • Survival • Manatees are in danger from people (boats). Manatees must stay close to the surface in order to breathe. Often times, they are struck by the propellers of passing boats. They get many scars and wounds and cut up flippers dues to these accidents. The injuries are not intentional. Manatees have also been killed by disease, flood-control gates, cold water, and human destruction. Sharks, Alligators, crocodiles and man have been known to attack and kill manatees. • This picture is from Manatees Gentle Giants And Peril By Mary Unterbrink

Where do I come from? • Babies are born 1 at a time. As soon as the calf is born, the mother manatee raises it to the surface for its first breath of air. A new born manatee weighs an average of 77 pounds. The majority of them leave their families when they are at least two years old. During that time, the mother and baby talked to each other and played with each other. This pictures is from Our wild World Manateesby Kathy Feeney

So the conclusion is………………… In conclusion, we now know that Manatees are very peaceful for their gigantic size. They live very happily in Florida’s waters where they can swim around and “hopefully” not get hurt. Although Manatees have such a big size they DO NOT eat other fish they only eat sea grasses, lettuce, leaves, and algae. I hope these gentle giants stay in Florida’s waters for ever and ever where I can go visit my favorite water buddy.

More exciting facts!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! • Manatees only have 6 neck bones not 7 like most mammals • They swim in groups or pairs • They like to stay in contact by touching each other • Manatees swim very slowly but if they want they can speed up to 15 miles per hour • Mothers and calves swim side by side and play together • Zoologists can tell how old a manatee is by counting the number of growth rings on it’s ear bones • They use anchor rope like dental floss to clean there teeth • I had fun doing this report This picture is from Our wild • World Manatees by Kathy Feeney

Bibliography • Bibliography • Books: • All About Manatees , J. Arnosky. pp. 10-11 • Manatees: Gentle Giants in Peril, M. Unterbrink. pp. 11-13 • Manatees: Our Wild World Series, K. Feeney. pp. 6-11, 17, 25,33-36, 39, 41, 43 • Manatee Winter, K. W. Zoehfeld. p. 7 • Slow Down for Manatees, J. Arnosky. pp. 2-6 • Websites: • Defenders of Wildlife: http://www.defenders.org/wildlife_and_habitat/wildlife/manatee.php • Enchanted Learning: http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/mammals/manatee/infosheet.shtml • Kid's Planet: http://kidsplanet.org/factsheets/map.html

THE END!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! • I hope you enjoyed learning about Florida Manatees because I had a real fun time researching about them! • This picture is from All about Manatees by Jim Arnosky

Bless Address and Press • Once you have edited your writing piece, find 3 people who can revise & edit with you.Have each person:BLESS: The reader tells you the things you did well.ADDRESS:Ask the reader to look at the things that you have targeted that you'd like the reader to look at.PRESS: The reader tells you things that you can improve upon or areas where they were confused.WONDER: The reader asks you questions for you to think about.Copy & paste this table to the bottom of your writing piece. Have at least 3 people peer edit your piece. Then revise using their suggestions. When you are finished editing & revising, you will then conference with your teacher. • STUDENT_NAME 1Ellie2 Olga 3BLESS1 I liked how your headings and subheadings made it sound like the Manatee was talking 2 I liked the whole thing I don’t know what to chose. 3ADDRESS1 Please look at my headings 2 please look at my word choice 3 please look at my punctuationPRESS1 I think you should make the bibliography page at the end 2 I really liked your word choice. 3WONDER 1 To me, it wasn’t completely clear about if Manatees live in zoos or not. 2 3

Florida Manatees