How fast are manatees? You may think they’re fairly slow, but a new video suggests otherwise. In the clip, the manatee, also called a sea cow, chases a manta ray. The most surprising part is how easily the manatee keeps up with the ray.
Take a look:
Israel Velazquez shared the video on his Instagram account. It shows a manta ray gliding through the water with a manatee in close pursuit. Velazquez, an experienced outdoor photographer in the West Palm Beach, Florida area, usually fills his page with both sea life and land animals. But even with all that experience, he was surprised by what he caught on camera.
“Interesting interaction between a manatee and a manta ray. They were going so fast it was hard to keep up and get good framing,” said Velazquez. “I wonder why the manatee had so much beef.”
The video leaves viewers with two big questions. First: why was the manatee chasing the manta ray? That part is unclear. While the two animals share the same waters in South Florida, they don’t have much in common. Manatees are herbivores, so the chase almost certainly wasn’t about food.
The second question: How fast are manatees, really?
How Fast Are Manatees?
The video is surprising because of how quickly the animals move. Manatees are famous for being docile, often seen floating lazily in the water.
According to Discover Crystal River, FL, a destination known for manatee viewing, the animals generally move at speeds of three to five mph. The blog notes, for comparison, that “a Roomba vacuum cleaner tops out at 3.8 mph.” However, when needed, manatees can kick things up. Using their strong tails, they can propel themselves up to 15 mph, but only in short bursts, much like a person sprinting.