The average adult manatee weighs 1,500 to 1,800 pounds and measures ten to 12 feet in length. Manatees range in color from gray to brown. They use their two small front flippers to crawl along ocean or river bottoms. Their flat, horizontal tails are pumped up and down to move them along. Despite their small eyes and lack of outer ears, manatees are thought to see and hear quite well.

Grown-up manatees are about 10 feet long and weigh about 1,200 pounds. They never stop growing as long as they live! Their fat makes them heavy, but also helps them float. Most mammal long bones have space inside to make red blood cells, but manatee bones don`t. They are solid and heavy, which helps manatees sink to the bottom to eat plants. Manatees have tough, grayish-brown, wrinkled skin that feels like an elephant`s skin. Scientists are of the opinion that long ago, manatees used to live on the land and eat grass like elephants. Manatees have toenails just like an elephant too. Also, a manatee`s big nose is like a short trunk. Manatees use their nose to grab plants and pull them into their mouth - just like an elephant! Of course, manatees and elephants are very different. Since manatees live in the water today, they don`t even have back legs. Instead, they have a thick, paddle-like tail which helps them swim. Their front flippers are used for steering and digging up plants to eat. Manatees have small eyes, and can`t see far in muddy water. They can smell and hear very well. Manatees communicate by making high-pitched sounds, and leave messages by putting a scent on a rock for other manatees to find.