Who Smarted?
Episode: What animal is known as a 'Sea Cow?'
Date: November 14, 2025
Podcast: Who Smarted? – Educational Podcast for Kids
Host: Trusty Narrator (Atomic Entertainment / Starglow Media)
Guests: Mama Tea the Manatee, her calf Milo (a.k.a. "Momatee" and family), assorted animal voices
Episode Overview
This playful, science-filled episode dives into the fascinating underwater world of the manatee – popularly (and curiously) known as the "sea cow." With host Trusty Narrator and some very special aquatic guests, kids and families will learn what makes manatees unique, why they’re called “sea cows,” how they live, their connection to legendary mermaids, and – most importantly – what humans can do to help keep manatees safe.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Meet the Manatee Family
- Host jumps into a warm Florida river, encountering two friendly manatees: Mama Tea (the “momatee”) and her calf, Milo.
- Introduction to manatee daily routines:
- “The big three. Swimming, sleeping, and eating. And that’s about it. In fact, we spend about 12 hours a day sleeping and seven hours eating. The rest of the time, we mostly float.” – Mama Tea [03:31]
- Milo protests the “boring” reputation and insists manatees are fascinating.
Manatees and Mermaids – A Surprising Tale
- Fun historical tidbit: Christopher Columbus and his crew mistook manatees for mermaids.
- “Christopher Columbus [...] wrote in his journal that he and his crew saw three mermaids rise out of the sea. But he said they weren’t as beautiful as everyone claimed. Huh. That’s probably because they were actually manatees.” – Milo [03:08]
Why ‘Sea Cow?’ and What Makes a Manatee a Manatee?
- “Sea cow” reference is explored:
- Manatees have calves (babies), are big, love to eat, and mainly munch on plants—earning cow comparisons.
- "Cows are noble animals." – Trusty Narrator [04:52]
- Manatees eat up to 15% of their body weight daily, mainly seagrass and some algae.
- “That’s like a human eating 10 pounds of food at every meal.” – Trusty Narrator [05:40]
Manatee Relatives – Not Who You Think!
- Although they share traits with cows and hippos, manatees' closest relatives are actually elephants!
- “Our lips are prehensile. That means they’re capable of grasping food when we lift it up with our flippers.” – Mama Tea [06:51]
- Manatees also replace their teeth throughout their life, like elephants.
Manatee Superpowers
- Fast facts:
- Can swim up to 20mph in short bursts (usually about 5mph, 50 miles/day).
- Have no natural predators due to their habitat and size.
- Can live in both freshwater and saltwater environments, thanks to super kidneys.
- “Most sea creatures can only live in one or the other. But manatees’ kidneys are able to control the amount of salt in our bodies, so everything stays in balance for us.” – Mama Tea [09:14]
Where in the World Are Manatees?
- Found in Florida, the Caribbean, West Africa, and the Amazon.
- Occasionally spotted farther north during hot summer months.
- Migrate to warm waters in winter, sometimes hanging out by warm water discharged from power plants.
- “We figured out that power plants dump out tons of warm water [...] and it’s perfectly safe for us, so we can forget about migrating and just chill out there.” – Mama Tea [10:46]
Manatee Body Facts
- Most of a manatee’s body mass is digestive organs (NOT fat!).
- “A manatee’s intestines can be up to 150ft long. That is half a football field.” – Trusty Narrator [12:02]
Manatee Intelligence
- Despite claims about small brains, manatees are quite intelligent:
- Can distinguish colors.
- Have a strong sense of touch.
- Learn basic tasks as well as dolphins, but don’t perform tricks for fish treats.
- “We even communicate like dolphins!” – Mama Tea [14:18]
- Milo demonstrates (with a humorous jab at dolphins).
Manatee Dangers and Human Impact
- Main threats:
- Boat collisions (leading cause of manatee injury/death)
- “Almost every manatee I know has at least one scar from a run-in with a boat.” – Milo [15:24]
- Toxic algae, hunters, and abandoned fishing gear.
- Historical note: Steller’s sea cow was hunted to extinction in the 1700s.
- Now illegal to hunt manatees; most people want to swim with them, not harm them, but interaction should be respectful.
- “It’s important to remember that even if you mean well, not all creatures want to be handled. In fact, it’s illegal in most places to bother manatees.” – Trusty Narrator [16:28]
- Boat collisions (leading cause of manatee injury/death)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “Mermaids? What do you mean?” – Trusty Narrator in response to Milo’s Columbus anecdote [03:07]
- “Don’t you call me a sea hippo.” – Mama Tea, joking about animal nicknames [05:17]
- “Manatees are the largest herbivores in the ocean.” – Mama Tea [05:47]
- “Despite being really big, we’re also sneaky fast.” – Milo [07:32]
- “Manatees are one of the few lucky ocean animals to have no natural predators.” – Mama Tea [08:29]
- “Most sea creatures can only live in one or the other [fresh or salt water]. But manatees’ kidneys are able to control the amount of salt in our bodies, so everything stays in balance for us.” – Mama Tea [09:14]
- “It’s not easy looking so cute and cuddly. Tourists love swimming up to mom and me and trying to hug us or jump on our backs for a ride.” – Milo [16:18]
- “Bottom line, you can look but don’t touch.” – Trusty Narrator [16:28]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:11–02:30 – Meet the Manatee Family
- 03:07 – Columbus sees “mermaids”—really manatees!
- 04:29–06:24 – Why “sea cow?” and manatee diet
- 06:24–07:27 – Manatee relatives and adaptations
- 07:32–08:54 – How fast and safe are manatees?
- 09:05–11:08 – Manatee habitats and migration
- 12:02–12:40 – What’s inside a manatee?
- 13:50–14:48 – How smart are manatees?
- 14:52–15:18 – Threats from boats and humans
- 16:11–16:40 – How to (respectfully) see a manatee in the wild
Episode Tone & Style
The episode flows in a lively, humorous Q&A format, complete with playful banter between humans and animated manatees. Jokes, wordplay, and pop quizzes keep the learning fun and fast-paced: “A manatee’s intestines can be up to 150ft long. That is half a football field.” [12:02]
The tone is friendly and inclusive, encouraging kids to make connections and draw their own conclusions—always with good-natured humor and affection toward our gentle, underwater stars.
Bottom Line
What animal is known as a 'sea cow?'
The manatee—one of the ocean’s most lovable, surprisingly smart, and truly fascinating creatures!
This episode equips kids (and grownups!) with memorable facts, a newfound respect for manatees, and practical reminders for helping protect them for the future.
“You can look but don’t touch.” [16:28] – In manatee country, that’s the truly smart move!