Manatees never leave the water but, like all marine mammals, they must breathe air at the surface. A resting manatee can remain submerged for up to 15 minutes, but while swimming, it must surface every three or four minutes. This West Indian manatee was photographed at Dallas World Aquarium in Texas.
Can manatees sleep underwater?
Animals like marine mammals exhibit unihemispheric sleep because they have to come to the surface to breathe. ... You can't truly sleep underwater when you need to breathe air. This means that half their brain gets to rest while the other half remains alert.
How long can manatees sleep underwater?
They may rest submerged at the bottom or just below the surface of the water, coming up to breathe an average of every three to five minutes. When resting, manatees have been known to stay submerged for up to 20 minutes.
How do manatees breathe?
Although they live in water like fish, manatees, need to breathe air to survive, so they come to the surface frequently to take a breath. And when they do—it's a big one! Manatees replace 90 percent of the air in their lungs in one breath.