I don’t know why…I just thought a photo of a manatee lying on its back drinking water might be considered unique…but I guess it all depends on what your normal is, right?
Visit my blog Two Salty Dogs for more on life on a sailboat in Florida. (Just click the pic.)
I normally live in Canada so I don’t see a lot of manatees. But when I’m living on a sailboat in Florida (like now) I tend to see them every once and a while.
Manatees take up residence primarily in Florida’s coastal waters during winter. They can also be found in the warm waters of shallow rivers, bays, and estuaries. Rarely do individuals venture into waters that are below 68 degrees Fahrenheit.
I love gentle creatures like elephants. Manatees are a large aquatic relative of the elephant and are very gentle too. They are slow moving and playful and have been known to body surf and barrel roll when playing.
Manatees are grayish brown in color and have thick, wrinkled skin on which there is often a growth of algae. Their front flippers help them steer or sometimes crawl through shallow water. They also have powerful flat tails that help propel them through the water. They are herbivores and they eat marine and freshwater plants.
Manatees only breathe through their nostrils, since while they are underwater their mouths are occupied with eating! A manatee’s lungs are 2/3 the length of its body.
The leading human-caused threat to Florida manatees is collisions with watercraft, mostly powerboats. Propellers and boat hulls inflict serious or mortal wounds, and you often see manatees with a pattern of scars on their backs or tails after surviving collisions with boats. Scientists believe that unless this cause of death is curtailed, the manatee population will not recover.
There is a great effort to educate boaters about the dangers they present to manatees and I can only hope the message is getting through…These gentle giants were here first and we must learn to share the water with them.
Sherrygaley.com 
This is SO adorable! I love animals, so this naturally brought a smile to my face. Thank you for sharing!
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He is a cutie, isn’t he? You could just tickle his tummy!
OMG great capture. Love him.
now this definitely is unique!!
I think big things can be cute too 😉
Thanks Sherri. We’re having a blast so far. Lovely way to escape winter.
Isn’t that one of the joys of photography – sharing sights that might never be seen otherwise!
Thanks, Tina.
Thanks, Laurie. Once I found this out it made more sense how they can stay underwater for so long. We saw 16 of these guys just yesterday in a creek.
You’re fortunate to have spent time near them. It’s a treat.
Totally agree. I was lucky enough to see 16 yesterday — all in little creek.
Thanks, Mary!
That’s it — a unique capture. 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
I think you did too — in a good way!
That certainly seems unique to me. He’s cute, if “cute” can be applied to something that large.
I would definitely say this qualifies as a unique photo… 🙂
What a great photo – I do love manatees and their “gentle giant” reputation. And how exciting that you’re living on a sailboat!
I think this is very unique!! It’s definitely not a sight I see everyday..or even ever – for that matter!
I love Manatees although I have only seen them once in Florida and on TV… They look so gentle ….
wonderful shot!
Lovely! And very interesting info. It’s hard to imagine having lungs that are 2/3 the size of your body!! As for the photo challenge, I do think this particular pose is pretty unique!
I really like this photo! Having grown up on the water in South Florida I love those big guys. And how wonderfully close up you got! And how cute he is having fun with the water! We used to go to FP&L’s hot water canal in Port Everglades- Ft. Lauderdale to feed them lettuce, but sadly, post 9-11 you can no longer get in. Enjoy your time cavorting with the sea cows! 🙂
Totally hearting this photo! Everybody loves manatees! Or anyone with a soul at least 😀
I love that photo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’ve never seen a manatee drink like that! Maybe it isn’t unique — but it is a unique capture!
Well, I’ve never seen a manatee drinking from a water fountain before, so it’s unique for me. I think I stretched the brief as well 🙂