Manatees

Manatees are covered in tiny hairs which help other organisms adhere to.The green stuff growing on this manatee is called mat algae and is normal to see on these slow moving mammals.This algae creates a tiny ecosystem of itself that can be home to tiny crustaceans. Schools of fish will follow manatees and pick off hitchhikers as manatees go about their business. When manatees are out at sea, barnacles will grow on their skin as well. When the manatees leave the ocean in the winter and head towards freshwater springs, the barnacles die and fall off.