Manatee - The West Indian
Manatee's (also includes the Florida Manatee and the Antillean Manatee)
coloration varies in shades from gray to brown. Although variations in
length and weight have been noted, an average adult grows to be about 10
feet long and weighs in at about 1,000 pounds. The manatee has frontlimbs in
the shape of flippers (similar to the seal and walrus), and a wide flattened
tail. They have no hindlimbs. Their bodies are rounded and streamlined. The
skin is wrinkled and is scattered with small almost colorless hairs. The
males and females are distinguished by the position of the genital openings
and the absence or presence of mammary glands. They have small beady eyes
that are sunken on either side of their face. There are tiny ear openings
located just behind the eyes. Two nostrils are located on the upper surface
of the snout which have skin flaps that act as check valves to keep water
out while underwater, but let air in when they surface.
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