Classification: Manatees are large, aquatic mammals. They are in the Phylum Chordata, animals with backbones; they are in the Class Mammalia, which includes animals that suckle their young. Further classification places them in the Order Sirenia for their sirens of ancient mythology. The Florida manatee population is known as(Trichechus manatus latirostris). Similar animals, called Dugongs, are found in Indo-Pacific waters.

Appearance: The Florida manatee has a large, seal-like body that tapers to a powerful flat tail. It has two agile forelimbs with three to four toenails on each. Its body is composed of thick and wrinkled skin with a rough texture, and powerful upper lips. The average size of a manatee is 9 to 10 feet long, weighing around 1,000 lbs.

Range: The range of the Florida manatee is throughout Florida's rivers, estuaries and bays, and as far west as Louisiana in the Gulf and north to Virginia and the Carolinas on the east coast.

Habitat: Manatees are found in coastal waterways, estuaries, salt-water bays, rivers and canals, particularly where seagrass beds are located. Slow-moving rivers and coastal areas are the preferred habitats, especially where submerged vegetation thrives.

Food: Manatees are completely herbivorous and can eat 10-15% of their body weight daily. In captivity they are fed lettuce and other greens, and given elephant vitamins.

Reproduction: In manatees, females mature around 5 to 9 years of age, and males not until 6 to 9 years of age. It is believed that one calf is born every 2 to 5 years. Twins are rare in the wild. Gestation period is around 13 months. Newborns weigh approximately 40 pounds at birth and stay with the mother for several years.

Behavior: The Florida manatee is a gentle and slow-moving mammal. Most of the time is spent eating vegetation, resting, traveling. On average manatees can travel about 40 to 50 miles a day, sometimes farther. When threatened, a manatee's only defense mechanism would be to swim away.

Sight: Some people believe manatees are near-sighted, or may have limited depth perception. It is believed that they can differentiate between colors. They have sparse body hair over their bodies, and thick whiskers on their faces. It is not clear if this aids in navigation. Research shows that they know exactly where swimmers are, even in black-out conditions.

Pectoral Flippers: The two small pectoral flippers on a manatees's upper body are used for steering. These flexible flippers may also be used for bringing food to the manatee's mouth and for guiding movement along a waterway's bottom.