Subject: Manatee, births
Nancy Sadusky (manatee@america.com)
Fri, 20 Sep 1996 10:27:16 +0000
Dear Marcus,
Your questions were:
How many babies does a mother have at one time? Could she
have multiple births like twins? Please let me know soon. Thanks!
Here's the answer:
Manatees usually only bear one calf. Although twins have also been
recorded, they are rare. In 1991, one of the manatees in our Adopt-A-Manatee
program, Phyllis, gave birth to twins, so she is quite famous!
It is believed that females bear calves every two to five years.
A two year interval may occur when a cow loses a calf soon after
birth. When pregnant, the mother manatee will carry the calf for
about 13 months before she delivers. Mothers nurse their calves for
a long period, and a calf may remain dependent on its mother for up
to two years. The cow assumes total responsibility for raising the
calf. Calves nurse under water from a nipple located behind the cow's
flipper and begin to eat plants a few weeks after birth.
Hope this answers your question!
Sincerely,
Nancy Sadusky
SMC Communications Director
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Save the Manatee Club
500 N. Maitland Ave.
Maitland, FL 32751
1-800-432-JOIN
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