Manatee Anatomy

Like terrestrial herbivores plant eaters manatees have large salivary glands for lubrication and initial digestion of food. This makes the manatee more prone to serious injury in the case of a boat strike.

Manatee Anatomy Facts

Their nostrils close automatically when going underwater.

Manatee anatomy. You can tell how old a manatee is by counting the annual growth rings in the ear bone. Many people confused this with their age but the truth is they always have wrinkly skin. The manatee has a unique look that differentiates it from other mammals.

They assume the wrinkled skin is a sign of aging but it is simply part of their overall anatomy. They have very large ear bones. The manatee does have some hair on its body the most being around the snout.

Their large intestine can be up to 147 feet in length. Manatee anatomy physical characteristics. They also have very wrinkled skin.

However the big round part of the body is the stomach and the digestive tract for the plants they eat. The unique anatomy of manatees. But the manatee can still have internal injuries so continue to observe the animal for any of the other characteristics listed here.

So the next time you see a manatee dont judge a book by its cover. Manatees are hind gut digesters and use their large intestine and cecum for the majority of digestion. Manatees have lungs that run along their dorsal or back side of their bodies.

Like typical manatees the florida manatee is distinguished by its heavy bulky body. It might actually be a very young manatee. Teeth molars 7 per quadrant.

They have long elongated snout and whiskers. Florida manatee facts the adult manatee averages 115 feet 35 m in the overall length and weighs up to 2200 pounds. Although they feed in an aquatic environment manatees exclude most of the water when they swallow which makes the contents of their stomach relatively dry.

Many assume that the large sized manatee has blubber like seals and whales. 17 19 paired ribs. Their intestines can be up to 147 feet long and that is only one of the many vital organs inside there.

They dont have external earlobes but anatomically manatees appear to have good hearing. If you see a manatee with grayish white or white wounds this likely means the wound has healed. If the manatee is tilting to one side unable to submerge seems to have trouble breathing or is acting strangely.

Manatee anatomy facts. 6 cervical vertebrae neck. Anatomy of a manatee and a human.

They are thought to possess good eyesight and. The overall size depends on several factors including their location vegetation that is part of their diet species and gender. The manatee has the following bones starting at the top of the head and then moving towards the back to its paddle shaped tail.

Flipper assembly humerus radius. The body of a manatee is very large and they can weigh from 440 to 1200 pounds. Discover the many amazing animals that live on our planet.

Manatee Factsheet Dolphin Research Center