Short whiskers adorn the short, boxy snout.
Many years ago, there were legends that sailors, seeing manatees from a long distance, thought they were mermaids. Their skin quickly lightens to gray as they mature. Although they can stay underwater for up to 20 minutes, they usually surface every 5 minutes. Their nostrils are covered by flaps that close during dives. The manatee's life span is roughly 60 years.