Shaped like a one-person submarine, the thousand-pound, ten-foot-long manatee may be the gentlest creature on earth. Divers in the southeastern waters of the United States have observed the playful manatee hugging other manatees with its flippers. It also bestows kisses on its companions. (These must be bristly kisses, for the manatee has sharp whiskers!)
Believed to be a relative of the elephant, the manatee has a long upper lip. This is used to propel food into its mouth. Its teeth, all molars, are used for grinding its food. Its two front flippers are used for swimming, scratching, and holding its young. The flippers also are used to remove grass from between its teeth. Its tail is broad and flat, resembling a small paddle.
The manatee, a mamma] with a brain and nervous system much like our own, has an excellent sense of hearing and of taste. In fact, its ability to taste changes in the water probably aids its navigation. The manatee "talks" to its companions with squealing, chirping sounds. Sometimes it screams with alarm if a calf is threatened.
Always in search of warm water, the manatee travels from coastal bays up river mouths along the Florida coast. Seemingly independent, with no herding or leadership instincts, the manatee develops no lasting relationships. Its main concern is grazing on underwater grasses. After feeding, it usually naps, rising sleepily to the surface every few minutes to breathe. The manatee leads a simple, peaceful, and playful life which humans might, at times, envy.