General: West Indian Manatees (Trichechus manatus) are large, aquatic, ungainly creatures often referred to as "sea cows" that look more like whales than terrestrial mammals. Manatees are cylinder-shaped with a broad, rounded tail flipper and large pectoral fins. The nostrils are on the top of the nose. The color is gray or brown, and the hairs are stout, short, and sparse.

Manatees are found in warm, fresh and salt waters along the east coast of North America, the Caribbean, and coastal areas of Central and South America where they feed on vegetation.

Like all other mammals, manatees give birth to live, air-breathing young that are then suckled and cared for over several years.

Taxonomy: Class: Mammalia, Order: Sirenia, Family: Trichechidae.