Manatees and dugongs are marine mammals of the order Sirenia. They originated in the middle Eocene period around 45 to 50 million years ago. The name manatee comes from the Haitian word manati . Their thick-skinned, streamlined, almost hairless bodies have forelimbs modified into flippers. The tail is enlarged and horizontally-flattened.
Manatees are now quite rare.
In ancient times, sailors mistook them for mermaids or sirens on account of their long tails. Today, they often bear scars on account of their collisions with boats, a major hazard. Manatees spend most of their time feeding, resting or travelling. They prefer shallow saltwater bays, slow-moving rivers, canals, estuaries and coastal waters. Manatees are quite agile creatures.