subject: Florida Manatees, The Gentle Sea Cow [print this page] Florida manatees, sea cows and cute, and marine mammals shy and harmless. Large sheep and weigh about a ton. Be up to the length of nearly 15 feet. Since their bodies shaped like an elongated oval with a tail-shaped paddle, and it gives them to pay effective.
There Manatee females mature at about five years, and requires a male nine years to mature. When mature, they will be able to reproduce. Gestation period about 13 months. The birth of one is the most common. However, there have been cases recorded the birth of twins, but this is rare. I was born a child weighing between 60-70 pounds. Calves stay with their mothers and nurses, as long as two years. Is it possible to live to 60 years.
Sea cows nice find shelter in canals and rivers. They favor the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico during the cold winter months.
Gather in and around the water from Citrus County in the city of Crystal River and Homosassa. And warm water, and comes from sources with an average temperature of 72 degrees. There was up to 476 sheep and found breeding in these waters. If there was a severe blow cold and sudden temperature drops of water seriously, it can kill them.
Sheep live in freshwater or saltwater. They are completely vegetarian and adults eat 10 to 15% of body weight per day or about 100 pounds of water, aquatic plants. They also spend nearly half their time in sleep, it's a miracle they had enough sleep to eat vegetarian a lot.
They drift down to the shallow water and sleep. With mammals breathe air, and take a breath in periods as long as 20 minutes. It floats on the surface, exhale noisily through the nostrils located at the edge of their snot, and take a deep breath, slipped down to the resumption of the national program of work.
The most serious is the enemy of human activity. Cut the boat with the engine fan fast-moving, spinning like the saw, through the skin. Therefore, there are strict laws imposed on operators of boats. Boat operators must comply with the slow speed of inactivity or as a result does not, when you know the areas that have the sheep. Boaters are not allowed in the exclusion zone. There are warnings posted in sanctuaries.
One way to see if there sheep in the area of sea boats is to seek a spiral on the surface of the water or there may be the back of the mammals out of the water.
Since the sea cow is inherently thin, and encourage people to swim in waters where the gathering, and approaching them with lettuce and other vegetables. It is illegal to feed the sheep or other harassment. If the arrested person may face a large fine.
These mammals also get stuck in the water control systems or networks and lines designed to catch fish and crabs. The biggest threat comes from habitat loss.
Fortunately, protected manatees in the United States under federal law. Florida Manatee campus adopted a law in 1978. Founded Crystal River National Wildlife refuge in 1983.
The shelter is to protect the West Indies manatee endangered. Refuge habitat preserves undeveloped land and participate in the Gulf of kings. Bay is the headwaters of Crystal River. Hot springs are havens that provide habitat essential to the population that migrate to this area every winter. It is home to more than 25 percent of the population of the country.
Would you like to swim with the manatees? Diving is a great way to meet them up close and personal. Usually, you will need to hire a guide or use the travel agency that can teach you how to swim with these gentle creatures care. And will provide you with snorkel, mask, snorkel and wetsuit.
You will need to swim with the splash as little as possible, and enter the water slowly and quietly. Do not swim after them. Instead, let them come to you and to help you take their picture. Do not poke or questioning at any time with any object, and this includes the hands, arms or feet. Does not separate a cow from her calf or a member of the group.
Florida manatees, sea cows and nice, an endangered species, but you can still be a memorable experience, while protecting them.
Florida manatees, sea cows and nice, an endangered species, but you can still be a memorable experience, while protecting them.
