Fossilized Manatee Molar - Trichechus sp.

Manatees don't have any canines or incisors. They only "grinding" teeth (molars). These teeth are constantly replaced throughout life, with new teeth growing at the rear as older teeth fall out from the front of the mouth. Manatees don't usually have more than six teeth in each jaw of its mouth at a time. Tooth replacement is an adaptation to the manatee's diet as they eat plants that hold sand, which can wear down their teeth.


**I have a fairly large collection of natural curiosities and decided to share some on JungleDragon. I have been collecting bits of nature for years and also have many friends who have shared things with me. Everything in my collection was ethically collected/harvested/sourced and is cruelty-free.