1. Manatee

2. Scientific name: Trichechus manatus
Taxonomic
Classification
Scientific name: Trichechus manatus
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Mammalia
Order: Sirenia

3. Key Characteristics Size: 10-13 feet long, 800-1200 pounds
Coloration: True color is gray, although they appear brownish-gray
They have no true neck
Their tail looks like a beaver tail
They have patchy hair all over their bodies, with a lot of hair on their snout

4. Adaptations They can swim up to 15 mph, but usually only swim 2-6 mph
They have special adaptations they use for diving
These help the manatee conserve oxygen while diving
Manatees are not deep-diving marine mammals like whales and dolphins

5. They need warm tropical or subtropical waters!
Habitat Needs
They need warm tropical or subtropical waters!
West Indian Manatees can live in fresh, salt, or brackish waters.
Amazonian Manatees need fresh water.
All manatees can be found in waters 1 meter or deeper, as long as there is seagrass or other vegetation.

6. Physiology and Reproduction
Male manatees are sexually mature at about years of age, while females are sexually mature at about 3 years of age.
Females are usually larger than the males.
Females do not form permanent bonds with males.
Mating takes place in the water.

7. Interesting Facts! Manatees can only breath through their noses
They have to turn their whole body if they want to turn their head around
They are the only aquatic mammal that is an herbivore
Their hind limbs are absent, instead they have a beaver-like tail

8. Sources
Video