Welcome to the Manatee Education Site! This site is meant to be a learning resource for students, teachers, and anyone interested in learning about one of Florida’s most endangered marine mammals. The Florida Manatee is a state and federally listed endangered species, and public knowledge and awareness is one of the key factors for its survival. This page contains lots of fun and educational activities for students, including a detailed look at manatee habitat, eating habits, and anatomy. You can even make your own manatee puppet!

Lesson Plans

Manatee Outreach Programs Available

Our manatee education coordinator is available to conduct manatee outreach programs for any age group. Choose one of the following manatee topics:

Manatees as Mammals
Manatee Threats
Manatee Habitats
Manatee Math

Or talk with our educator to create a program on the topic most interesting to your group.

To request a manatee education presentation for your school group, club, or organization please contact Kate Shaffer at kshaffer@co.volusia.fl.us or (386)-736-5927 x2235

Manatee Fun Facts
(links are in pdf format)

The Florida Manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris) is a subspecies of the West Indian Manatee (Trichechus manatus). Manatees are a native species to Florida.

Manatees can be found in warm, shallow waters along the coast and river systems of Florida.

These waters create a unique habitat* for the manatees’ survival. * A habitat is the area an organism normally lives.

Manatees are herbivores, which means they only eat vegetation.

Manatees are slow-moving animals and are often involved in collisions with boats.

Manatee Anatomy
Coloring Activities
Word Search
Manatee Puppet

In addition to the activities listed above, please check out our links to other educational sites.

The Florida Manatee: A Florida Treasure; A Guide for Boating, Diving and Snorkeling Around Manatees
by FWC's Bureau of Protected Species Management

Manatee coloring book
by FWC's Bureau of Protected Species Management

The Florida Manatee
by Florida Power & Light

Commonly Asked Questions about: Manatees, Manatee Protection Rules, The Manatee Program and Funding Sources
by FWC's Bureau of Protected Species Management

http://www.hswsp.com/manatees/extensive.html
by Homosassa Springs Wildlife Park

http://www.savethemanatee.org/coolstuff.htm
by the Save the Manatee Club

www.efieldtrips.org/manatees
by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

*All printouts were provided by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission Student Activity Workbook.
*Manatee photograph taken by Patrick M. Rose