2007-02-26 11:03:39 · 4 answers · asked by enemany 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Zoology
I've never really touched a manatees skin, but at my grandparents' house (they live along a creek) and in the winter a lot of manatees come and stay in the creek and you can get really close to the water.
When the water is really clear you can tell that their skin is really soft except for the ones wiith barnacles stuck to them.
2007-02-26 11:17:07 · answer #1 · answered by cheerleadergal56 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The closest relative to manatees are the elephants. So if you've ever touched an elephant at a zoo or a circus, just imagine it wet. It's very rough and grainy, leathery-feeling skin.
To previous answerers:
They do not feel like dolphins. They are not related to dolphins.
Manatees are protected by the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972, which states that it is illegal to come within 150 ft or 48 meters of any marine mammal in it's natural environment in US waters. That means no touching, no feeding - even watching them for more than 30 minutes is considered to be harassment. So, please respect this endangered species in their natural environment.
I work around manatees in a zoo.
2007-02-26 23:06:56 · answer #2 · answered by cbbfish 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yep. They feel just like a wet elephant. Kinda rough, coarse hairs, a couple barnacles here and there, and/or some algae.
I know you're not supposed to, but working on that tour boat, sitting around in the marina when not out on a trip, you gotta admit, it is hard to resist, and I never kept them from their business for more than a few seconds... and the only time I did anything else I wasn't supposed to (like give them water) was when we had an injured one come through to keep it around until sea world and fish and wildlife could get there to take it for rehab....
I'm so bad.......
2007-02-26 23:29:18 · answer #3 · answered by gimmenamenow 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it kind of feels like a dolphins skin
2007-02-26 19:28:50 · answer #4 · answered by tyler m 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋