These 1000 pound mammals have an ellipsoidal submarine appearance, with a large, mobile snout, with a upper lip divided into two mobile prehensile pads containing large clusters of protrusive bristles. The flexibly mobile forelimbs are oval flippers with 3 nails rather than claws on the digits.
Hindlimbs are absent and the tail is flattened dorsoventrally into a fluke.
The eyes are small with tiny lids and a nictitating membrane. The nares are dorsal and closeable during submersion. These animals have an estimated life span of 30 years, live in family groups of 2-20, are gently social, have casual movement patterns while feeding, migrating, being social, or when resting or sleeping. They are rarely vigorously active except when suddenly disturbed or injured. They do not exhibit rapid body movements, or agile or complex whole-body responses to stimuli.