"Given its enormous girth, it's not hard to believe that the 1,500-pound manatee is actually a marine relative of the elephant. This gentle giant and its habitat have been greatly harmed by humans, but much work has been done to protect manatees from future damage. Readers follow along with the accessible text and full-color photographs as they find out what manatees eat, what their social life is like, and why they are in so much danger from people."--Publisher.
Presents a collection of color photographs that chronicle the everyday lives of manatees, and includes brief explanatory captions, as well as an essay that provides information about the endangered animals.
A photographic guide that “focuses on the beauty, grace and vulnerability of these herbivores, but it also covers other sea mammals and their habitats” (The Biologist). Named a Choice Outstanding Academic Title In this book, manatee expert John E. Reynolds III and famed photographer Wayne Lynch join forces to reveal the clearest portrait of manatees ever published. Florida Manatees is a song for the manatee, a celebration of the lives of these majestic creatures. Reynolds’s concise, informative text shares what scientists know about manatees, while Lynch’s beautiful photographs instantly demonstrate how special these “potatoes with whiskers” really are. By encouraging an appreciation of manatees, the authors hope to help ensure a future in which Floridians can find ways to coexist with and continue to enjoy these uniquely wonderful sirenian inhabitants of their state. Included in this book: How manatees first came to Florida waters How manatees fit into the ecosystems of Florida What and how much manatees eat How manatees behave and communicate with one another Why manatees look the way they do Why manatees have whiskers How manatee mothers feed their young and much more “A lovely book that sounds as though it would appeal primarily to scientists, but which offers inviting color photos and history that make it accessible to lay audiences both within Florida and outside the state.” —Donovan’s Literary Services
Manatees are among nature's strangest-looking, gentlest animals. They're among America's most endangered mammals and were the basis for ancient tales of mermaids, legendary creatures that were half-fish and half-human.
From two scientists who have been at the forefront of manatee research for over three decades, The Florida Manatee offers an engaging, accessible introduction to manatee biology, including communication, diet, long-distance migration, and much more. This second edition is updated with new scientific research, as well as discussions of recent conservation efforts—largely driven by manatee injuries and deaths resulting from boat collisions—that have contributed to the robust growth of manatee numbers in Florida. It also includes the latest predictions for manatee populations and health in the future, both in Florida and worldwide. This is the perfect book for anyone seeking the most comprehensive, current information on this fascinating marine mammal.