Our cute cartoon Scubadorable manatee represents all three species of manatee: the West Indian Manatee, found in warm waters around the Caribbean including all around Florida, the Amazonian Manatee of the Amazon basin, and the African Manatee of western Africa. Here are some fast facts about manatees.

  •  Endangered Species: All three species of manatee are currently listed as vulnerable to extinction. The two subspecies of the West Indian Manatee are each considered to be Endangered separately.
  • Close Relatives: Manatees may be known as "sea cows", but they are closely related to elephants. The similarities can be seen in their thick, wrinkled skin and long, flexible prehensile upper lips.
  • Sea Sirens: The three species of Manatee are all in the Order Sirenia. One other aquatic mammal belongs to the Order Sirenia, and that is the Dugong. Dugongs are found in the Indo-Pacific.
  • Tropical Waters: Manatees are highly sensitive to cold water. They need water temperatures above 20°C (68°F) to survive. This is why manatees in the United States are often found in Florida during the winter months. Cold snaps drive the animals to warmer waters, such as springs and power plant water circulation areas.
  •  Veggie Lovers: Manatees are herbivores and are known to eat over 60 different species of plants. These big eaters will consume 10-15% of their body weight in vegetation in a single day!
  • Underwater Champs: Manatees can hold their breath for up to 15 minutes when resting. When active, they'll surface to breathe every three to four minutes.
  • Hefty Herbivores: Baby Manatees weigh around 66lb (30kg) at birth! Adult Manatees can weigh 880-1210lbs (400-500kg)
  • Slow Motion: Manatees are slow-moving creatures and typically cruise through the water at just 2 to 6 miles per hour.
  • Big Talkers: Manatees have been found to have a complex array of vocalization which they use for communication, especially between mothers and calves.
  • The Manatee joined Scubadorable on August 14, 2008.

Scubadorable Manatee Gift Options

Manatee Label – The manatee is a large marine mammal known for its gentle behavior. They are sometimes called sea cows because they dine on underwater grass. You can... View on Zazzle
Cute Manatee Postcard – Manatees are so cute. This is our Scubadorable version of the manatee. This will make a great gift for manatee lovers and manatee supporters. View on Zazzle
Cute Scubadorable Manatee Luggage Tag – The manatee is a large marine mammal known for its gentle behavior. They are sometimes called sea cows because they dine on underwater grass. You can... View on Zazzle
Cute Manatee Tie – Manatees are so cute. This is our Scubadorable version of the manatee. This will make a great gift for manatee lovers and manatee supporters. View on Zazzle
Cute Manatee – Manatees are so cute. This is our Scubadorable version of the manatee. This will make a great gift for manatee lovers and manatee supporters. View on Zazzle
I Love Manatees Coffee Mug – Manatees are known as Sea Cows because they are slow moving and graze on vegetation. This is a cute design for anyone that loves these sweet... View on Zazzle
I Love Manatees T-Shirt – Manatees are known as Sea Cows because they are slow moving and graze on vegetation. This is a cute design for anyone that loves these sweet... View on Zazzle
Cute Manatee Trucker Hat – Manatees are so cute. This is our Scubadorable version of the manatee. This will make a great gift for manatee lovers and manatee supporters. View on Zazzle

In the vast and vibrant underwater world, one species of fish certainly knows how to stand out – the adorable, colorful, and striking Blue Tang. Characterized by its vividly blue body, accented with touches of black and yellow, this marine beauty can brighten up any reef with its lively presence.

The fish with the binomial scientific name Paracanthurus hepatus is known by several common names, including Blue Tang. Other common names include Regal Tang, Palette Surgeonfish, and Blue Hippo Tang.

The Blue Tang fish species is easily recognizable thanks to a certain forgetful fish named Dory, the star of Pixar's Finding Nemo and the beloved sequel Finding Dory.

But did you know that these real-life characters have their own captivating stories to tell? Here are some fun facts about the Blue Tang.

  • Algae Eaters: Blue Tangs help maintain the health of coral reefs by eating algae that could otherwise suffocate the corals. With their razor-sharp teeth, they help to keep their environment in balance, proving that even the smallest creatures can make a significant impact!
  • Sharp Defense: When threatened or stressed, the Blue Tang can use sharp spines on its tail to ward off predators. The spines are called caudal spines; they are found on the caudal peduncle, another name for the tail fin.
  • Changing Colors: They start life as a bright yellow baby fish. As they mature, they develop their deep blue body with black highlights. The tail remains yellow.
  • Popular Fishes: Blue Tangs are among the most common and most popular fish found in marine aquariums around the world.
  • Long Lifespan: In the wild, Blue Tangs can live up to 30 years. In captivity, they live on average 20 years.
  • Wide Distribution: These beautiful creatures can be found in Indo-Pacific waters, in reefs from the Philippines to the Great Barrier Reef of Australia, across the East African coast to Sri Lanka.
  • The Blue Tang joined our Scubadorable school of fish on December 22, 2006!

Fun Scubadorable Blue Tang Gift Ideas

I Love Blue Tang Button – Our cute Scubadorable Blue Tang fish just keeps swimming! This I Love Blue Tang design is great for anyone that loves these fish! You can totally... View on Zazzle
Cute Blue Tang Classic Round Sticker – This is our totally cute Scubadorable version of a Blue Tang, also known as the Regal Tang or Flagtail Surgeonfish. This will make a great gift for scuba divers and snorkelers. View on Zazzle
I Love Blue Tang Baby Bodysuit – Our cute Scubadorable Blue Tang fish just keeps swimming! This I Love Blue Tang design is great for anyone that loves these fish! You can totally... View on Zazzle
I Love Blue Tang Pinback Button – Our cute Scubadorable Blue Tang fish just keeps swimming! This I Love Blue Tang design is great for anyone that loves these fish! You can totally... View on Zazzle

The Common Bottlenose Dolphin is the most well-known species of ocean dolphin. They are found in temperate and tropical oceans around the world. Here are some fun facts about the Common Bottlnose Dolphin.

  • The Common Bottlenose Dolphin is not the only species of Bottlenose Dolphin, though there is some controversy regarding the recognition of various splits to the species and subspecies. The Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin and the Burrunan Dolphin are recognized by some authorities, as are the subspecies Black Sea Bottlenose Dolphin and Lahille's Bottlenose Dolphin. These splits were first widely recognized in the early 2000s.
  • Another name for the Common Bottlenose Dolphin is Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin.
  • Common Bottlenose Dolphins feed on fish and other marine prey, including eels, shrimps, and squids.
  • Dolphins hunt by using echolocation, which is a kind of biological sonar. They make sounds and listen to the echos that are returned to locate and identify prey.
  • Dolphins also use noises to communicate with each other.
  • The scientific name for the Common Bottlenose Dolphin is Tursiops truncatus. This Latin name means roughly "looks like a shortened or stubby dolphin-type fish".
  • Instead of sleeping as most animals do, dolphins rest half of their brains at a time. This is called unihemispheric slow-wave sleep.
  • Common Bottlenose Dolphins are known for their intelligence. They have larger brains than human beings and the third largest brain relative to body size of all mammals.
  • The gestation period (length of pregnancy) for the Common Bottlenose Dolphin is 12 months.
  • Common Bottlenose Dolphins are highly social and typically live in pods (groups) of around 15 dolphins. They may travel in groups of hundreds of individuals for short periods of time.

Scubadorable Common Bottlenose Dolphin Gifts

Jumping Bottlenose Dolphin Notepad – Our cute Common Bottlenose Dolphin is having some fun! Swimming, jumping, smiling! This cute active design is perfect for anyone that loves these beautiful marine mammals.... View on Zazzle
Common Bottlenose Dolphin Insulated Water Bottle – Common Bottlenose Dolphins live across the world, swimming in temperate or tropical waters. These gray cuties may swim up to 2600 miles during seasonal migration. They... View on Zazzle

World Oceans Day is commemorated each year on June 8. This is a day to remind everyone about the importance of our oceans and the vital part they play in our global ecosystem. It's also a day to raise awareness among others about the plight of our oceans, and to take action to protect them. We need our oceans healthy for our planet to continue to thrive.

Get ready for this special day by planning what you can do to help celebrate World Oceans Day coming up in a couple of weeks!

  • Participate in a beach cleanup! One of the best ways to protect our oceans is to keep them clean. Look for local beach cleanup events in your area, or organize your own cleanup with friends and family. If you don't live near the ocean, plan a local cleanup. Garbage that gets into the water locally may end up in the ocean some day -- and you can do your part to stop that!

  • Reduce your use of plastic! This is something to do every day, but you can use the day to think of ways to incorporate more reduction of plastic use in your life. Plastic pollution is a major problem for our oceans. Take steps to reduce your own plastic use by bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bags, avoiding single-use plastics, and recycling properly. Already do these things? That's great! Spread the word.

  • Take the day to learn more about ocean conservation. World Oceans day is a perfect time to educate yourself about the issues facing our oceans, and the ways you can help. Attend a lecture, watch a documentary, visit a nature center or rehabilitation center, or read a book about ocean conservation.

  • Help support ocean conservation organizations. This can be by donating to organizations that work to protect our oceans, or through the donation of your time -- consider volunteering for a similar organization.

  • Participate in a citizen science project that will help ocean conservation: Look for activities like collecting data on marine debris, protecting sea turtle nests, or monitoring coral reefs.

  • Eat sustainably-sourced seafood. This is another practice that should stay with you year-round, but if you're not up to date on the latest information regarding sustainable seafood practices,World Oceans Day is a perfect time to get caught up.

  • Last, but not least, use your voice to spread the word. You can use social media or other channels to spread awareness about World Oceans Day and the importance of protecting our oceans.