The
Manatee is
Florida's official state marine mammal and one of the most endangered species
of wildlife in America. There are only 1,850 of these docile creatures
remaining, according to latest estimates; and their numbers are concentrated in
Florida year round.
Grey
or brown in color,
growing as large as 13 feet in length and weighing more than 3,000 pounds, manatees
are completely harmless. They are non-aggressive, often shy and reclusive.
Manatees can be found in shallow, slow moving rivers, estuaries, canals, salt
water bays and coastal areas, particularly where sea grass beds flourish.
At
home in either
salt or fresh water, manatees normally birth only one calf every
two to five years. The manatee has a large seal-like body that
tapers to a beaver-like tail. Its two fore limbs contain three or four nails
each. Their thick, wrinkled skin, protruding whiskered lower lip and wide
set eyes contribute to the manatee's perpetual melancholy expression.
Like
many other
aquatic mammals, manatees communicate in squeaks and squeals with their off-spring
and with each other. Although their depth perception may be limited, they
differentiate colors and hear very well, despite the absence of ear lobes.
THE
MANATEE CAFE is proud to support the efforts to save this gentle
species from total extinction by contributing a portion of its proceeds to this
worth cause.
For
further information about programs now in place to save the manatee, please contact:
