Manatees belong to the order Sirenia which also includes the dugong and the extinct Stellar sea cow. They are thought to be distinct subspecies because of the large body of water separating them from one another.
Manatees are distant relatives of elephants.
You may not think they look alike but if you use your imagination, you will notice they share several characteristics. Manatees may not look like mermaids to us, but many years ago sailors mistook manatees for legendary mermaids. Part of the manatee legend remains in the name of their animal order, Sirenia, which comes from the Greek mythical legend of sirens who sang songs to lure ships into rocky shores. Manatees live in shallow, calm rivers, estuaries, saltwater bays, canals, and coastal areas. Manatees move from fresh to salt water with no problem.