Description:
The Florida manatee is a subspecies of the West Indian manatee.  It is a large marine mammal that reaches a length of approximately 10 feet and weighs 1,000 or more pounds.  The head is large with a short, blunt muzzle that is covered with stiff whiskers.  Manatees lack hind limbs, and have rounded forelimbs that have been modified into flippers.  The tail is broad and round, flattened horizontally.  Body color is typically gray or brown-gray.  Hair is sparsely distributed over the body. 

Habitat:
Manatees inhabit estuarine and fresh water of at least 4-5 foot depths.  They have occasionally been found several miles offshore, but more typical habitats include canals, rivers, fresh water springs, and estuaries where vegetation is plentiful. 

Range:
The Florida manatee population numbers approximately 1900 individuals, most of which are found in coastal waters from east central Florida south through Miami and along Florida's west coast.  In summer, manatees may migrate as far north as Virginia, and as far west as Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico.  Related species and subspecies of manatees also exist in the Caribbean, Central America and South America.