Food
Herbivore
Manatees eat seagrass and water plants.
Plant eater
HomeAnimals A–ZLetter MManatee
Manatee Facts for Kids: M Is for Manatee
Manatees are gentle, slow swimmers that are sometimes called sea cows. They spend much of the day munching on water plants. Here are easy manatee facts for kids: what manatees eat, how big they grow, what a baby manatee is called and where manatees live. Read them out loud, try the quiz, then color the letter M.
Mammaltype
Herbivorediet
Calfbaby name
Fun facts
Fun Facts About Manatees
Two more true facts about the manatee that kids love. Tap the button to hear the name, then read each fact together.
Mm
Say “Manatee”
Manatee starts with the letter M. Clap once for each part of the word as you say it.
1
Did you know?
Manatees are also called sea cows.
2
One more fact
They come up to breathe about every few minutes.
Act it outMove like a manatee for ten seconds.
Spot the letterFind the letter M in “Manatee”.
Ask a questionWhat would a manatee eat for breakfast?
Quick facts
Manatee Facts at a Glance
Everything a curious kid wants to know about the manatee, in eight short cards.
Size
How big?
A manatee is about 3 m (10 ft) long.
Body sizeLife
How long?
Manatees live for about 40 to 60 years.
LifespanBaby
Calf
A baby manatee is called a calf.
Baby nameGroup
Aggregation
A group of manatees is called an aggregation.
Group nameHabitat
Rivers & swamps
Manatees are found in warm coasts and rivers of the Americas and West Africa.
Where they liveAnimal type
Mammal
Manatees are gentle, slow swimmers that are sometimes called sea cows. They spend much of the day munching on water plants.
Manatee is a mammalLetter
M is for manatee
Manatee has 7 letters and starts with M.
Say: Manatee
Quick quiz
Manatee Quiz for Kids
A tiny game to check what stuck. Read the question out loud and let your little one tap the answer.
Question 1
Score: 0
Free download
Free printable
Manatee Coloring Page: Letter M Worksheet
Done reading about the manatee? Print the free letter M sheet, say “M is for manatee” together and color the big letters. Great for circle time, morning work or a quiet afternoon at home.
1
Download the PDFOne click, no sign-up or email
2
Print at home or schoolFits US Letter and A4 paper
3
Color and traceBig letters and dotted tracing lines
Uppercase MLowercase mTracing practiceFind the M animals
Download Free PDF
3 pages, black & white
Questions
All FAQs
Manatee Questions Kids Ask
Manatees eat seagrass and water plants. That makes the manatee a herbivore, which means it is a plant eater.
A manatee is about 3 m (10 ft) long.
Manatees live for about 40 to 60 years.
A baby manatee is called a calf.
A group of manatees is called an aggregation.
Manatees live in warm coasts and rivers of the Americas and West Africa. Their favorite habitat is: rivers & swamps.
Yes. The manatee is a mammal. Manatees are gentle, slow swimmers that are sometimes called sea cows. They spend much of the day munching on water plants.
Manatee starts with the letter M. Say it slowly and listen for the M sound at the start.
Keep exploring
All M animals
More Animals Like the Manatee
Other M animals and more mammals to read about next.
Mammal
Many monkeys use their long tails to help them balance as they leap through trees. Spider monkeys can even hang by their tails.
Lives in: Rainforests Read monkey factsMammal
Mice use their long whiskers to feel their way in the dark. Their front teeth never stop growing, so they chew a lot.
Lives in: Everywhere Read mouse factsMammal
Yorkshire terriers are tiny dogs with long, silky hair. They were first bred in England to catch rats.
Lives in: Everywhere Read Yorkshire Terrier factsMammal
Seals are great swimmers but wiggle on their bellies when they are on land. A thick layer of fat called blubber keeps them warm in icy water.
Lives in: Ocean Read seal facts