The Earth is full of mystifying and sometimes dangerous creatures. While many roam the land alongside us, many more dwell beneath the surface of the water. From rivers to the oceans, you never know what you’ll find in our planet’s aquatic ecosystems. Even when you find an animal or its remains, you might still get more questions than answers. That has certainly been the case with this viral post.

This post has left viewers puzzled trying to piece together what kind of creature could leave behind such remnants. X users such as @KebbeNayyeih wondered “Is that the rib cage of a giant fish?” Others like @ForgetFup theorized that they could be whale bones. However, nobody seemed to be able to give a solid answer, leaving user @TwiiterXVids to plead “Can we get an animal bone expert in the chat lol what is this?”

Many viewers speculated if these are even bones at all and not just large bananas due to their curved shape and yellowish coloring.

To find the answer, you’ll have to go to the source of the video. An Instagram account called mustseeflorida was able to shed some light on these mysterious remains.

“Seriously… and for those who are wondering, these are #manatee bones that we came across recently,” said mustseeflorida in a recent post. They go on to explain that the coloring is likely due to how long the bones have been there, as they appear to have been there for a long time. 

This deduction seems to fit, as manatee skeletons consist of ribs that arch up to allow their lungs to be in a much higher position than is found in other mammals. Additionally, manatee bones lack marrow cavities, which makes their bones dense and relatively heavy, which would explain why the remains haven’t floated away with the river’s current. Florida is also a likely place for manatees to be, as they tend to seek out warmer waters to avoid the stress of cold water.

As for what led this particular manatee to meet its demise here, its discoveries can’t say for certain. They suggest that one possible explanation could be poaching, which has become a major cause of concern in Florida waterways in recent years. Other possible explanations include pollution or an accidental collision with a boat. 

However, the nearby placement of an old rope suggests a high likelihood of accidental entanglement. This would make sense, as accidental entanglement has become another cause of concern for the Sunshine State’s aquatic inhabitants.

This is an unfortunate example of an alarming trend being seen throughout the Florida coast at the moment. Florida broke a morality record in 2021 with more than 1,100 manatees dying. The suggested causes previously mentioned are a part of the explanation for this trend, but starvation is another cause of the rise in manatee deaths.

Many are doing everything they can to halt this devastating trend before it becomes too late. Manatee Protection Plans, or MPPs, were made requirements of 13 key Florida counties in 2002. Other concerned parties such as the Everglades Foundation are on a mission to restore and protect America’s Everglades. Doing so in areas such as Florida Bay will significantly reduce the destruction of seagrass, one of the primary sources of food for manatees.

The video’s original poster said they considered not even sharing the video, as it is such a sad sight. However, the attention that the video has received could lead to an increase in awareness of the challenges the manatee population currently faces. With more exposure and attention, these kinds of sights could become less prevalent very shortly.