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Precious Footage Captures Manatee Chewing On Its Own Flipper

Left image shows a manatee chewing its flipper. Right image shows a manatee swimming.

The expression “so ugly it’s cute” may have been coined to describe the manatee. These floating potatoes bask around in shallow water along the southeastern coast of the United States. Swimming with manatees is a favorite tourist activity in Florida, which is one reason why.

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How adorable is that? Who knew that manatee sucked their flippers? The docile animals allow snorkelers and divers to get very close. Although it is illegal for divers to touch these underwater mammals, the manatee doesn’t have to follow the same rules. If you ever swim with these mammals, you can allow them to touch you, but you should try to limit touching them.

There is no end to the silliness you may experience with these happy little swimmers. If you take a camera on your dive, hold onto it tight. Manatees love to steal cameras and GoPros to take selfies. The animals can recognize tour guide divers, and they have their favorite humans. Dive company Swim with the Manatees provides fun facts about these incredible animals.

Who would have guessed that the sea potato’s closest relative is the elephant? The color is their only similarity. They have tiny brains, but these animals are brilliant. We mentioned earlier that they can remember specific divers and will choose favorites. Sailors once thought manatees were mermaids because of the way they move in the water.

Manatee teeth fall out and regrow almost constantly. Our youngster may have been sucking their flipper due to dental pain. Manatees uniquely regulate their buoyancy by passing gas to move through different depths. This fart trick allows them to stay underwater and rise to the surface easily.

Please share if you enjoyed learning about these cute animals.

You can find the source of this story’s featured image here and here.

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