MANATÉManatees are marine mammals that breathe air through their nostrils. Their nickname is sea cow. Manatees are considered the basis of the mermaid legend. There are a few species of manatees: West African, Amazonian and West Indian. They settle in rivers, in the ocean and on the shores of islands. All three species of sirenians are endangered or threatened. The Florida manatee is one of the most endangered marine mammals in the United States. West Indian manatees live on coasts and in rivers from the mid-Atlantic and northeastern Brazil to the southeastern United States. They also live near islands in the Caribbean Sea. Amazonian manatees live only in South American rivers. West African manatees live in the rivers and coastal waters of West Africa. “They are large marine mammals, with a whale-like body that ends in a flat, paddle-shaped tail” (“Manatee Facts” Save the Manatee. Save the Manatee Club, n.d.). Their lungs extend horizontally along the body. Their tail is broad and rounded. They have light gray to dark gray skin with scattered hairs all over their bodies. They have no hind legs. Some reach 13 feet long and weigh more than 3,500 pounds. All the world's manatees have similar habitats. They occupy deep, slow-moving rivers, saltwater bays, canals, and coastal areas, primarily where seagrass or freshwater vegetation flourishes. Additionally, manatees are herbivorous. “Manatees eat aquatic plants and can eat approximately 10 to 15 percent of their body mass as vegetation each day” (“Manatee Facts” save the Manatee. Save the Manatee Club, n.d.). Even though manatees can live to be almost 60 years old, their reproduction remains very slow. Manat...... middle of paper...... Drowned. Manatees. Chanhassen, Minnesota: B Child's World: np, 2002. Print.Worthy, Graham AJ The World Book Encyclopedia. Flight. M-13. Chicago, IL: World Book, 2009. 132-33. Print.Odell, Dan, Ellen Dierenfeld, Sally Mizroch, and Will Waddell. “Manatees.” nd: n. page. Internet. April 8, 2014. “Manatee Facts.” Save the manatee. Save the Manatee Club, nd Web. April 3, 2014. "Florida Manatee - Trichechus Manatus Latirostrus - Facts, Video - Wildlife Defenders." Wildlife Defenders - Protection of endangered species, species at risk and habitats. NpFox, Annie. “Animals/Fish/Birds/Plants Endangered Species Manatee.” The Insite. NP, 1997. Web. April 7, 2014. Flesher, D. (2003,). Manatees may move from endangered to threatened status. Sun-Sentinel (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.). Retrieved from http:sks.sirs.com