Manatees: Trichechidae

The almost-hairless manatee is 9 to 13 feet (3 to 4 meters) long and weighs between 1,100 and 3,300 pounds (500 to 1,500 kilograms), depending on the species. Manatees never stop growing as long as they are alive. The tail is paddle-like, and the flipper-like forelimbs have three to four fingernails except in the Amazonian manatee, which has no fingernails. Manatees are brownish gray. Their eyes are tiny and are placed on the sides of the head. Their flexible lips help them manipulate food so that they can get it into their mouths.

Manatees have a well-developed sense of smell and hear very well. Their eyesight, however, is not very good. Manatees communicate through a series of whistles and chirps.

The manatee is a relative of the elephant. The nose or snout of a manatee acts much like the trunk of an elephant in that it is used to gather food and bring it to the mouth. Their fingernails or toenails, depending on how you look at it, are also similar to those of the elephant.