This informative post will be published on Saturday in place of my regular one. You are invited to participate with the opening question.
Brain Teaser Question
“The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.” What is the guiding characteristic of this sentence?
(answer found at the end of this post)
Featured Facts
One of nature’s most recognized and threatened marine mammals is the manatee. In American waters, manatees are commonly found along the Gulf coast, Florida’s shallow waters, and the southeastern coast.
Here are a few interesting facts about the manatee:
- Length: Average adults stretch out nearly 10 feet
- Weight: Average adults tip scales at 800-1,200 pounds (some over 2,000)
- Swimming Speed: About 15 mph
- Diet: Water grasses, weeds, and algae
- Lifespan: In the wild, few live past 30 years
Because of their slow-moving and gentle nature, manatees are frequently called sea cows. They enjoy grazing peacefully in warm, shallow waters. Their days are filled with three primary activities: eat, travel, and rest.
While resting, adult manatees can stay submerged underwater for 15-20 minutes. Their big, flat tail helps propel them through the water, almost effortlessly. A pair of short forelimbs, called flippers, help to steer and hold vegetation.
Calves are born underwater, and the mother must guide the newborn to the surface for life’s first breath of air. A calf is dependent upon its mother for 1-2 years.
Mating occurs most frequently during spring or summer. Adult bulls and cows do not form permanent pairings. A low reproductive rate is evident because one calf is usually born to a cow every 2-5 years. Gestation takes up to one year, and a newborn calf usually weighs 60-70 pounds at birth.
Most American manatees winter near Florida because of the warmer waters. During the summer months, many migrate to other waters. Some have navigated to coastal waters near Texas and Massachusetts.
The biggest threat to manatees is death caused by mankind. A variety of dangers exist: watercraft collisions, litter, poaching, contact with flood gates and canal locks, and entanglements with fishing lines and hooks.
row 1: female cow with calf. row 2: adult holding vegetation and swimming. row 3: various images of adults. (All images courtesy of Pinterest)
Answer to Brain Teaser Question
Defined as a pangram or holoalphabetic sentence. The sentences contains all 26 letters of the alphabet.
Big Sky Buckeye 
I laughed at that teaser question. I wonder how many times I typed that in my 8th grade typing class? More than a few, that’s for sure.
One of the most famous Texas manatees was the one that made it all the way up the Houston Ship Channel to the port itself! It finally was guided back to the Gulf. I don’t remember the details of that rescue mission, but I do remember how compelling it was. It headlined the evening news for several days.
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Linda, thank you for sharing the news story about the Texas manatee. I learned how to correctly type and manage a manual typewriter in my junior year of high school.
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Reading about manatees, I can’t help but smile and think about the theory that they were who sailors mistook for mermaids!
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Dora, thanks for reading and sharing the note about manatees being mistaken for mermaids. It was enjoyable to research and learn about them.
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I knew the brain teaser and enjoyed the photos and info about the manatee.
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Vickie, congratulations on the solving the brain teaser. I figured you might solve it. As I was researching about the manatee, I couldn’t help but embrace its quiet and balanced life.
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Manatees actually look sweet! I enjoyed learning more about these gentle giants. Thank you. 🙂
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Nancy, thank you for sharing. I learned quite a bit as well. Growing up in Montana, I was definitely a long ways from their habitat. They are such peaceful giants.
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I ♥️ manatees.
Every time I see one I think of the “Barbara Manatee” song from Veggie Tales.
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Barb, thank you for reading and sharing back. The peace exhibited by the manatee has always found a special place with me.
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I did not know the brain teaser but loved the info on the manatees.
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Kev, it is always wonderful to hear from you. I appreciate that you enjoyed the details about the manatee.
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