Hello, Adventurers! Welcome back to the Coastal Expeditions blog! If this is your first time visiting our blog, we’re happy to have you here. We are all about nature, adventure, and making the most out of the beautiful outdoors of South Carolina. If you enjoy all things hiking, paddling, kayaking, and spending time outdoors, you’ve come to the right place! Here on the blog, we dive deep into different habitats, excursions, conservation efforts, and nature programs. Our site is filled with interactive maps, destination guides, and educational resources. Since the weather is getting warmer, we want to help you get out there and take advantage of all that the Lowcountry has to offer! We offer guided tours of the beautiful Lowcountry by kayak, paddleboard, ferry, boat, and private charter. We also have hands-on workshops taught by highly-trained guides on wilderness skills, birding, identifying native plants, sustainability, and camping. Anything you want to learn about, we teach! If you haven’t already, we encourage you to take a look around our site to learn more about our offerings. In our last post, we discussed a few fun things to do in Shem Creek. Today, we’ll be turning our attention to some of our marine friends: Manatees! Manatees are some of the most intriguing creatures that can be found in the Lowcountry waters. If you’re interested in learning more about manatees, you’re in the right place. Let’s get started!

Manatees are large, fully aquatic mammals from the family Trichechidae, which is a family of sirenians, also known as sea-cows. Sirenians are herbivorous mammals, meaning they feed only on plants. Currently, there are three living species of Trichechidae: The Amazonian manatee, the West Indian manatee, and the West African manatee. The West Indian manatee is the species that can be found in the United States, categorized by two subspecies: The Florida manatee, which can be found in the southeastern United States, and the Antillian manatee, which is found throughout the remainder of the species’ range, which consists of the Gulf Coast. Manatees migrate to South Carolina during the hot summer months and then head back to Florida in the winter. Because of this, manatee sightings in the Lowcountry are most common between June and September. 

These aquatic mammals are large, reaching lengths of 11.5 feet on average, with females tending to be larger than males. As for weight, manatees weigh about 2200 on average. They are gray and rotund, somewhat oval-shaped, with stout bodies. The head is rounded and indistinct from the body, and they do not have necks. A unique feature of manatees is that they are the only aquatic mammals to have six cervical vertebrae instead of seven. This means that in order to see things to the sides of them, they cannot turn their heads. Instead, they must turn their entire bodies around. Around the mouth are vibrissae, which are long and stiff hairs, commonly known as whiskers. These hairs give manatees an advantage– They help them touch and sense in the shallow waters where they dwell. 

Manatees have short snouts and large, flexible upper lips that allow them to gather food and eat. Another unique thing about these creatures is that they are one of the only animals that keep replacing their teeth throughout their entire lives. Manatees do not have incisor or canine teeth, but they have a set of cheek teeth. They have four sets of six to eight molars that will wear down, fall out, and get replaced. Although they do not have front teeth, they have rough, ridged pads in their front palette that help them break down food. The manatee’s eyes are small and widely spaced, with small lids that close in a circular manner. They also have clear inner eyelids that help protect their eyes. Despite their small eyes, they can see very well underwater. In fact, their retinas contain both rod and cone cells, which indicates that they can see both dim and bright light.

These aquatic wonders have jointed and flexible pectoral flippers that help them glide through the water and can be used for steering, crawling, and even putting food into their mouths. At the end of each flipper are three to four nails. Their tails are shaped like paddles, rounded, and horizontally flattened. They are extremely powerful, allowing manatees to propel through the water with strong, pumping motions. With the help of their flippers and tail, manatees are able to swim upside down and do somersaults and barrel rolls!

When it comes to diet, manatees rely almost exclusively on vegetation, such as seagrass, marine algae, and other aquatic plants when in a saltwater habitat. In freshwater habitats, manatees eat vegetation like water lettuce and alligator weed. The type of plants they feed on can change due to their immediate environment and the time of year. It is said that a manatee can consume 4 to 9% of their body weight in aquatic vegetation daily! They eat quite a lot because the vegetation they consume is generally low in nutritional value. Manatees are able to adapt to their surroundings and are able to feed in different areas of water columns. For example, manatees might partially pull themselves out of the water to eat vegetation found on the bank, or they might munch on overhanging branches or leaves. 

Despite their large size, manatees are known to be gentle giants. They are not territorial, and are often found alone or in small groups. In the southeastern United States, manatees can be found in rivers, bays, or estuaries that contain aquatic vegetation. In South Carolina, manatees occupy fresh, brackish, and marine habitats and move freely between salinity extremes. These mammals have been observed in the Palmetto State since 1850! Unfortunately, like other wildlife, manatees face threats from human-related causes. According to the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR), the most common human-related cause of manatee deaths in our area is collisions with watercraft. This can be due to boats operating in shallow waters, or because manatees are naturally slow-moving creatures with a curious nature. Additionally, cold-stress can have a significant impact on manatees in the Lowcountry because this area is in the northern part of the mammals’ range. 

SCDNR and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) have been working together on conservation efforts for manatees. As of 2021, the current population of manatees in the United States was 6,600. However, the population of manatees in the Lowcountry alone is undetermined. Because of this, SCDNR has asked for the public’s help with reporting manatee sightings by using a form via their website. It is important to note that you should not approach or get too close to a manatee– Just as you should not do so with other wildlife. Due to federal and state protections, it is illegal to hunt, play with, or harass manatees. This includes touching them or attempting to feed them. For years, the Florida manatee was considered an endangered species, but thanks to conservation efforts, the population has grown. Now, they are listed as a threatened species, but are still protected under South Carolina and federal law. 

As you can see, manatees are incredibly fascinating– and cute– creatures. Feel free to come on one of our guided tours; If you’re lucky, you just might spot a manatee floating in the Lowcountry waters! We hope that you found this article informative and helpful. As always, we thank you for reading and we hope to see you back on our blog soon! If you have any questions about our guided tours, reach out to us! At Coastal Expeditions, we are committed to introducing people to the wonders of the ecosystems of the Charleston area by providing guided tours and educational opportunities. If you’re looking to explore all that the Lowcountry has to offer, check out our offerings on our website to find the adventure which suits you best! We also offer kid-friendly tours as well as kids programs, camps, and kayak lessons. Our tours are led by knowledgeable, approachable naturalists and sea captains who are eager to answer your questions! Until next time, readers. Get out there and explore! Adventure awaits!