November is Manatee Awareness Month

Swimming in just a few places in our world is a unique and recognizable  mammal - the Manatee.  They are able to live 50 or 60 years and while they are known as "seacows", they are most closely related to elephants and hyraxes. Let's take a look at a few more fun facts about these wonderful animals and then some ways to celebrate them this month . . . 

Did you know -

• A manatee can move each side of its lip pads independently. This flexibility allowsthe manatee to "grab" aquatic plants and draw them into its mouth. The manatee uses its muscular prehensile upper lips much like an elephant (a distant relative of the manatee) uses the tip of its trunk to pick up items.
• Manatees do not have eyelids or eyelashes. Their eye muscles close in a circular motion, much like an aperture on a camera.
• Manatees have only six cervical (neck) vertebrae. Most other mammals, including giraffes, have seven. As a result, manatees cannot turn their heads sideways; they must turn their whole body around to look behind them.
• Manatees have only six cervical (neck) vertebrae. Most other mammals, including giraffes, have seven. As a result, manatees cannot turn their heads sideways; they must turn their whole body around to look behind them.

You will learn more about Manatees at this link, this link, and in my book - Blue Dragons, Red Pandas, Hoopoes & More! - print copy at this link and kindle ebook at this link.

So, once you have learned about Manatees, what might you do to celebrate these wonderful creatures? Daysoftheyear(dot)com gives several ideas which you will find at this link.