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can molars march? Manatees have only one kind of tooth – the molar. A molar is a large back tooth for grinding food. Manatees take in a lot of sand and other grit along with all the plants they eat. This causes their teeth to wear down. When the teeth wear down too much, they fall out. New molars grow at the back of the mouth. These new molars move forward to replace the old ones. That’s why they’re called “marching molars”.
I spent several weeks photographing manatees in Florida, at places like Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. The best time to find them was either early in the morning or late in the afternoon as they gathered near freshwater springs. Wearing a mask and snorkel, I would slowly move to a place where they could see me. Then I would wait. Many of the animals ignored me. But every once in a while, a manatee came right up to me! Sometimes we would even swim side by side. After a few weeks, my wife, Marcia, and daughters Caroline (age 4) and Katherine (age 11) came to visit, and we went to look for manatees together. We got up early the first morning, loaded our equipment into a small boat, and slowly headed down the Crystal River. It was January. The air was cold, and thick fog clung to the warmer river water like a heavy winter blanket. Pulling on our wet suits, snorkels and masks, we slipped quietly into the waist-deep water. With our heads underwater, we watched and waited. Pretty soon, we saw dozens of manatees gliding over the sandy river-bottom. A few manatees even came over and nudged our legs. They didn’t seem interested in us. But as my daughter headed back to the boat, her mum shouted, “Katherine, there’s a little manatee swimming right behind you!”
My daughter Katherine swims with a playful young manatee in the Crystal River. The manatee seemed to enjoy the interaction, and it even swam right up under her arm.
Katherine turned around. She was face to face with a young manatee. It was curious and wanted to play. They swam together gently, moving away from the shore. When Katherine stopped swimming, the calf turned around and came back to her. They swam together for about ten minutes. But for Katherine, those ten minutes will last a lifetime! 7
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can molars march? Manatees have only one kind of tooth – the molar. A molar is a large back tooth for grinding food. Manatees take in a lot of sand and other grit along with all the plants they eat. This causes their teeth to wear down. When the teeth wear down too much, they fall out. New molars grow at the back of the mouth. These new molars move forward to replace the old ones. That’s why they’re called “marching molars”.
I spent several weeks photographing manatees in Florida, at places like Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge. The best time to find them was either early in the morning or late in the afternoon as they gathered near freshwater springs. Wearing a mask and snorkel, I would slowly move to a place where they could see me. Then I would wait. Many of the animals ignored me. But every once in a while, a manatee came right up to me! Sometimes we would even swim side by side. After a few weeks, my wife, Marcia, and daughters Caroline (age 4) and Katherine (age 11) came to visit, and we went to look for manatees together. We got up early the first morning, loaded our equipment into a small boat, and slowly headed down the Crystal River. It was January. The air was cold, and thick fog clung to the warmer river water like a heavy winter blanket. Pulling on our wet suits, snorkels and masks, we slipped quietly into the waist-deep water. With our heads underwater, we watched and waited. Pretty soon, we saw dozens of manatees gliding over the sandy river-bottom. A few manatees even came over and nudged our legs. They didn’t seem interested in us. But as my daughter headed back to the boat, her mum shouted, “Katherine, there’s a little manatee swimming right behind you!”
My daughter Katherine swims with a playful young manatee in the Crystal River. The manatee seemed to enjoy the interaction, and it even swam right up under her arm.
Katherine turned around. She was face to face with a young manatee. It was curious and wanted to play. They swam together gently, moving away from the shore. When Katherine stopped swimming, the calf turned around and came back to her. They swam together for about ten minutes. But for Katherine, those ten minutes will last a lifetime! 7
Florida manatees bask in the warmth of the shallow water while they recover from injury at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.
T
A Florida manatee swims under a school of mangrove snapper fish in the Weeki Wachee River in northwest Florida.
oday, instead of hunting manatees, people travel from all over the world just to see them. This kind of tourism helps people appreciate manatees, and it can help teach people about the kinds of human activities that threaten manatees. To help protect manatees, sanctuaries have been created. These are areas that are off limits to people. Another thing that helps is reducing the speed limit for boats in manatee habitats.
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Florida manatees bask in the warmth of the shallow water while they recover from injury at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park.
T
A Florida manatee swims under a school of mangrove snapper fish in the Weeki Wachee River in northwest Florida.
oday, instead of hunting manatees, people travel from all over the world just to see them. This kind of tourism helps people appreciate manatees, and it can help teach people about the kinds of human activities that threaten manatees. To help protect manatees, sanctuaries have been created. These are areas that are off limits to people. Another thing that helps is reducing the speed limit for boats in manatee habitats.
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how you can help
In some places, like Florida’s Crystal River, you are allowed to swim near manatees. Generally, it’s best to watch them from a safe distance.
The best way to help manatees, like all endangered animals, is to learn about the problems facing them. Read books and magazines and visit websites that contain current information about manatees. Next, take action. No matter where you live, you can make choices that protect the environment. Recycle in your home, and never throw rubbish on the ground, in the ocean or in rivers. Instead of buying bottled water, which creates plastic rubbish that often ends up polluting our water, use a water bottle that can be refilled over and over again for years. Talk to your family, teachers and friends about what you’ve learned about manatees and other wildlife. Helping people understand wildlife conservation is one of the most important things you can do.
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You can follow the movements of manatees in the wild or learn about other manatee research by visiting www.sea2shore.org.
its your turn Not everyone can come face to face with manatees in the wild. Some zoos and marine parks have manatee exhibits where you can watch them, but most of these places are in Florida. You can also see captive manatees in Ohio and California. If you can’t see a manatee in person, watch videos of them. Many libraries have wildlife videos.
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Elephants are the closest land relative of the manatee. Watch elephants at a zoo, and then compare the way they look and move to the way manatees do. How does the elephant’s trunk compare to the manatee’s snout? Elephants have nails on their toes. Do manatees have nails? Check out the picture below!
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As you watch manatees, take notes about how they move and how they interact with each other. Make some sketches of them. Carefully draw any scars you see on the animals. Manatees in the wild often have scars from being hit by boats or from other accidents. Researchers use these scars to identify individual manatees.
The thick bristles on a manatee’s snout help it grab food and get it into its mouth.
If you are visiting Florida on holiday, you may get the chance to see manatees in the wild. They can often be found near urban areas or major tourist attractions. If you see a manatee, obey the rules. Never chase or tease them.
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If you are boating in Florida, make sure that you go slow in the Manatee Speed Zones. If you accidentally hit a manatee or see a sick, injured or dead manatee, be sure to report it by calling 1-888-404-3922.
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how you can help
In some places, like Florida’s Crystal River, you are allowed to swim near manatees. Generally, it’s best to watch them from a safe distance.
The best way to help manatees, like all endangered animals, is to learn about the problems facing them. Read books and magazines and visit websites that contain current information about manatees. Next, take action. No matter where you live, you can make choices that protect the environment. Recycle in your home, and never throw rubbish on the ground, in the ocean or in rivers. Instead of buying bottled water, which creates plastic rubbish that often ends up polluting our water, use a water bottle that can be refilled over and over again for years. Talk to your family, teachers and friends about what you’ve learned about manatees and other wildlife. Helping people understand wildlife conservation is one of the most important things you can do.
-
You can follow the movements of manatees in the wild or learn about other manatee research by visiting www.sea2shore.org.
its your turn Not everyone can come face to face with manatees in the wild. Some zoos and marine parks have manatee exhibits where you can watch them, but most of these places are in Florida. You can also see captive manatees in Ohio and California. If you can’t see a manatee in person, watch videos of them. Many libraries have wildlife videos.
-
Elephants are the closest land relative of the manatee. Watch elephants at a zoo, and then compare the way they look and move to the way manatees do. How does the elephant’s trunk compare to the manatee’s snout? Elephants have nails on their toes. Do manatees have nails? Check out the picture below!
-
As you watch manatees, take notes about how they move and how they interact with each other. Make some sketches of them. Carefully draw any scars you see on the animals. Manatees in the wild often have scars from being hit by boats or from other accidents. Researchers use these scars to identify individual manatees.
The thick bristles on a manatee’s snout help it grab food and get it into its mouth.
If you are visiting Florida on holiday, you may get the chance to see manatees in the wild. They can often be found near urban areas or major tourist attractions. If you see a manatee, obey the rules. Never chase or tease them.
-
If you are boating in Florida, make sure that you go slow in the Manatee Speed Zones. If you accidentally hit a manatee or see a sick, injured or dead manatee, be sure to report it by calling 1-888-404-3922.
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