Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • Canada
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. Canada
  3. 2020
  4. November 06
  5. West Indian manatees in Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Florida
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios West Indian manatees in Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

November 06, 2020

West Indian manatees in Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge, Florida

© Norbert Probst/Getty Image

Life in the slow lane

In observance of Manatee Awareness Month, we're swimming through clear, aquafer-fed spring waters in Florida with two friendly 'sea cows.' Generally solitary animals, manatees are also known to be curious and will approach boats. That's why Florida enforces special speed zones for watercraft, particularly as the manatees are on the move to warmer areas to spend the winter. While manatees have no known natural predators, they remain a vulnerable species due to loss of habitat and collisions with boats. These two have arrived in Three Sisters Spring, a natural freshwater spring in the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge on the west coast of the Florida Peninsula. The refuge protects critical habitat for the hundreds of manatees that migrate here each winter.

Most West Indian manatees off the coast of Florida live in shallow and marshy areas where they feed on sea grass, mangrove leaves, and algae. The ocean's largest herbivore, sea cows nosh on greenery for almost half the day. And what could be better than a nap after all that munching? Manatees will often sleep underwater for the other half of the day, coming to the surface for air in 15- to 20-minute intervals and grazing for food again in shallow waters.

water animal marine mammal reef swimming

Related Images

Donkeys in a valley near Rhyolite, Nevada, United StatesDonkeys in a valley near Rhyolite, Nevada, United States
Striated heron on a Victoria water lily, Pantanal, BrazilStriated heron on a Victoria water lily, Pantanal, Brazil
Impala in Moremi Game Reserve, BotswanaImpala in Moremi Game Reserve, Botswana
Magellanic penguins, Volunteer Point, Falkland IslandsMagellanic penguins, Volunteer Point, Falkland Islands
Andean cocks-of-the-rock, EcuadorAndean cocks-of-the-rock, Ecuador
Atlantic spotted dolphins near Santa Maria Island, Azores, PortugalAtlantic spotted dolphins near Santa Maria Island, Azores, Portugal
Red fox cubs near their denRed fox cubs near their den
Yellow warbler in CanadaYellow warbler in Canada

Today on Bing

Shi Shi Beach in Olympic National Park, Washington, USA

Shi Shi Beach in Olympic National Park, Washington, USA

Nov 06, 2024
Lake Pehoé, Torres del Paine National Park, southern Chile

Lake Pehoé, Torres del Paine National Park, southern Chile

Nov 06, 2023
Runners in the 1990 New York City Marathon crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge

Runners in the 1990 New York City Marathon crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge

Nov 06, 2022
Female numbat in Brookton, Western Australia, Australia

Female numbat in Brookton, Western Australia, Australia

Nov 06, 2021
Saffron flowers in Spain

Saffron flowers in Spain

Nov 06, 2019

Related Tags

animal outdoor bird grass standing deer antelope lush colorful water marine mammal tree branch flower plant field sky horse grassy tall
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
  • © 2025 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.