Manatees are graceful, slow moving, water mammals. Different subspecies populate places all over the world, each a little different. These unique creatures, sometimes called sea cows, are listed by the government as endangered.

Manatees are often confused with walruses. In fact, it has been stated that manatees resemble walruses without tusks! Although at first glance manatees may small a close cousin to the walrus, the similarities are circumstantial. A manatee's skin is usually gray with an occasional brown tint. Walruses' coats are brown and lighten to cinnamon tones as they age. Walruses also weigh more than manatees. A manatee's tail is round and paddle-like, while a walrus' is flat and can almost be seen as if it were two parts. Neither have visible earl. Walrus's and manatees have similar body shapes and spend much of their time under water. Seen in blurry water, who can blame people for making the mistake? Although if it is a manatee you're seeing, it might come right up to you, thinking you have food. The walrus and manatee are not long lost cousins, in fact it has been discovered that manatees are elephants' cousin on the swim team. Both elephant and manatee have a large prehensile upper lip that they use to pull food into their mouths.

Considering that elephants are related to manatees, it's no surprise that manatees eat plants. Since most of the subspecies live in the ocean, most manatees eat gritty water plants that grow on the bottom of the ocean or coast. All but one subspecies of manatees live in the ocean, the last one has adapted to eating floating plants that are found in the Amazon River.

Manatees are swimming mammals. It's not really a surprise, then that they live in the water. Most manatees live in the ocean, like that West Indian manatees (Trichechus manatus) who lives in the coastal waters of the southern United States, mainly Florida, and surrounding area. They so, sometimes swim into river as they can survive fresh water, although food is found in the ocean alone for the West Indian manatee. The Antillean manatee lives in the Caribbean Sea and coastal waters of Brazil and is classified as a West Indian manatee. The West African manatees (Trichechus senegalensis) are found in the coastal waters and river of Western Africa. The Amazonian manatee (Trichechus inunguis) lives solely in rivers, particularly, the Amazon River. It lives on floating plants. Manatees are in the group sirenain. Another sirenain, the dugong (Dugong dugon), lives exclusively in salt water. The dugong is found in the coastal water of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. Fossils show that it may have once lived in the Western Hemisphere but those died out millions of years ago. Which is-exactly-what might happen to manatees.

Manatees have only one natural predator-you. Before the first human saw a manatee, the population was stable. Humans killed manatees for bones, flesh, hide and oil. They were in demand. The population sunk lower and lower. Hunting bans were placed but that's not the only way humans have killed off manatees; there's also boats. Manatees are slow moving creatures. Boats are very, very fast. As such, speed boats can fatally injure a manatee. But, even then, manatees might still have a chance of survival, if they learned to avoid the boats. Manatees don't avoid boats, though, they swim up to them. They swim up to them. Why? People often feed manatees who swim up to their boats. Manatees feel the vibrations of a boat and think, "Food." The West Indian manatee is endangered due to habitat loss and dangerous interactions with boats.

Manatees are graceful, peaceful, loving animals. They don't hurt anybody for food, simply eating plants. They live in the water so it's not like they're living in the city and taking our stuff. Why would anybody want to hurt them? Manatees are a global marvel, worthy of our admiration and protection.