Ever notice the tiny hairs on a manatee’s back as a glint of sun hits them?
Their long facial whiskers are more commonly recognizable, but a new study conducted on Mote Marine Laboratory’s manatees indicates that those body hairs play an important role in helping the animals navigate through the water.
![Pictured are the small hairs, vibrissae, that dot the back of the manatee's body. These are used for sensory abilities and swimming [Provided by Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium]](http://1jrq7f28xft832q3y0265n9u.wpengine.netdna-cdn.com/files/2017/03/manatee1.png)
Pictured are the small hairs, vibrissae, that dot the back of the manatee’s body. These are used for sensory abilities and swimming [Provided by Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium]
“Often people think that animals have the same senses that we do,” said Mote’s senior aquarium biologist for manatees, Kat Boerner, who works with Hugh and Buffett each day. “But this really strong tactile sense is why we still have manatees in our waters today.”
So while there may be more to life than being really, really ridiculously good looking, the same cannot be said for having really, really, ridiculously sensitive body hairs.
For manatees, that could be key.