West Indian manatee

The American manatee is a gentle, slow-moving mammal that lives in warm coastal waters from Florida to northern Brazil. These chubby vegetarians graze on underwater plants and use sensitive whiskers to feel their way through murky waters. They're the biggest members of their aquatic mammal family, sometimes swimming alone or drifting in small groups.

• Whiskers on their snouts help them find food in cloudy water.
• They belong to the same animal group as dugongs and extinct sea cows.
• Two subspecies exist: the Florida manatee and the Antillean manatee.