Life Cycle of Manatees

Manatees are large, warm-blooded mammals that live in warm coastal waters. Their lives are lived entirely in the water and are the only strictly vegetarian water marine mammal. The life cycle of a manatee is much like that of other mammals.

  1. Mating

    • The life cycle begins with mating. Manatees reach sexual maturity between the ages of 2 and 5. An in-season female will be pursued by eager males, sometimes as many as 20 at a time. There is no particular season for mating.

    Gestation

    • Females that have been successfully bred will gestate for approximately 12 to 14 months (385 to 400) days before giving birth to one live offspring. Newborn manatees are known as calves. This will occur every two to three years.

    Nursing

    • Moments after birth, the mother will lead the calf to the surface to take his first breath. The calf will nurse multiple times daily for several months before weaning.

    Maturation

    • The calf is born essentially in the same form as he will have as an adult, though he will grow much larger and heavier.

    Development

    • The mother will wean the calf and teach it how to forage for vegetation as manatees are strictly vegetarian. The calf will stay with the mother for a minimum of one year, though many will stay until sexually mature.