What's Under That Elephant Skin?
Eyes: You would think that manatees eyes would get hurt from all the water getting in their eyes. Well, a manatee has a third eyelid. They use the eyelid when they are under water. The eyelid is clear so it allows them to see. Scientists actually thinks that manatees are farsighted. Manatees eyes are on the side of the head.
Gender: How do you tell the different sexes of a manatee? Manatees have a natural scar that they are born with. The females scar is on the stomach. The males is near their private.
Blood: The manatees red blood cells is made in the liver like ours.
Teeth: The manatees teeth are all molars that are found in the back of the mouth.
Getting Around: Manatees don’t always swim. Sometimes they walk on the bottom of whatever body of water that their in with their flippers. When they do swim the tail pushes and the flippers steer.
Sensitivity: Manatees often rub cheeks even though their cheeks are the most sensitive spot.
Heart: Pump. Pump. A manatees heart beats forty per minute.
Hairs: Facial hairs help manatees respond to their surroundings.
Bones and Tissue: Manatees have swollen bones. That means that they have water in their bones. That makes them really big. Manatees skin tissue is called “cookies”. It’s called that because it is black on the outside and white on the inside.
Blubber: They are also big because they have many layers of blubber to keep them warm.
Nails: Like an elephant manatees have four toenails.