Why Manatee Farts Are Actually Brilliant Engineering

Manatees may look calm and cuddly, but they’re quietly doing some impressive science.

These gentle giants can weigh over 1,000 pounds and eat up to 10% of their body weight every day, mostly plants. When those plants break down during digestion, they produce gas.

And here’s the surprising part, Manatees use that gas on purpose.

By holding or releasing small amounts of gas, manatees control their buoyancy, which helps them float higher or sink lower in the water without swimming hard. More gas means more float. Less gas means they sink.

This trick saves energy and helps them rest, eat, and move through calm, shallow waters. It’s the same basic science used in submarines and scuba gear. Nature figured it out first.

So yes, manatee farts are funny. But they’re also a smart survival tool powered by physics, biology, and evolution.

Sometimes the best science lessons come with a laugh.