Amazonian manatees are the smallest of the three species. They are shorter and more slender. The longest recorded specimen measured 9.2 ft. One particularly large specimen weighed 1058 lb. B. Body shape.
Manatees are grayish-brown.
Amazonian manatees usually have white or pink patches on the belly and chest. Organisms such as algae, which may grow on the skin of these slow-moving individuals, help determine their coloration. D. Pectoral flippers. The two small pectoral flippers on a manatee's upper body are used for steering. These flexible flippers may also be used for bringing food to the manatee's mouth and for guiding movement along a waterway's bottom.