Manatees! by emilienoelle
Mantatees are huge aquatic mammals native to Florida. They are closely related to dolphins and whales and live mostly in fresh or brackish water. Manatees are very slow-moving creatures and are often killed by outboard motors on speed boats. Many Floridians that we spoke with told us that they see manatees quite frequently though they are high on the national endangered species list and are federally protected. They range in size from 6 - 12 feet (15.5 - 30.5 meters) and have heads that seem much too small for their bodies! In spite of their large size, manatees are vegetarians and eat mostly leafy aquatic plants.
