A manatee calf, nicknamed Tater Tot, decided to give this canoer a surprise when he sprayed him whilst hitching a ride.

In footage filmed by the canoer, the manatee can be seen playing up close to the canoe's transparent bottom, swimming and twirling underneath it until he finally tries to hold on to get a ride with it.

“On one of the occasions that he surfaced, I leaned down to get a close-up shot and got unexpectedly sprayed. This is one of the manatees that I see regularly when I go canoeing,” the filmer said.

This manatee calf (I call him Tater Tot) came up to my clear canoe and tried to hold on to it a few times. He also rolled over under it a couple times. On one of the occasions that he surfaced, I leaned down to get a close up shoot, and got unexpectedly sprayed. This is one of the manatees that I see regularly when I go canoeing.