The manatee has prehensile lips. The upper lip pad is split so that the left and right sides can move somewhat independently, to guide plants into the manatee's mouth to their four rows of teeth which are continually replaced. https://journeynorth.org/tm/manatee/AdaptationsMouth.html | Howard Farran DDS, MBA

Curious Manatee swimming up to a kayak and giving it a thorough examination. Manatees have a prehensile upper lip, each side is capable of moving independently of the other. This helps the Manatee grab sea grass and other vegetation and push it back into their mouth for chewing. . . #manatee #snootasaurus #nature #strange #wildlife #outdoors #ocean #sealife #kayaking #clear #kayak #canoe #boating #stpete #tampa #tampabay #manatees #florida #animals | See Through Canoe

5️⃣ Facts about the Manatees Diet. 🌱 Manatees are herbivores, meaning they primarily eat aquatic vegetation. 🌱 Manatees consume nearly 10% of their body weight DAILY. 🌱 They spend up to 8 hours of their days grazing, hence the nickname “sea cow”. 🌱 Calves begin nibbling on plants within a few weeks of birth. 🌱 Manatees do not have front teeth, but behind the lips, on the roof of the mouth, a manatee has ridged pads, which (along with the lower jaw) tear through the sea grass and then allow

November marks Manatee Awareness Month and here at SeaWorld we’ve been involved in a record number of manatee rescues this year. Check out this video for more details on our conservation work. | SeaWorld

Manatee County’s efforts to preserve and maintain natural habitat are drawing attention from environmentalists and from the native species these preserves are trying to protect. The recent game-cam sightings of a male panther moving through the County’s Duette Preserve have drawn attention to the 22,000-acre oasis for wildlife. Ranger Jerry Miller and District 3 Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge discuss more about the County’s commitment to wildlife conservation. | Manatee County, Florida Gover