Manatee - Appearance

Manatees have split lips and hairy, creased faces. They are fish-shaped, and have hairless skin, with paddle-like forelimbs and horizontal tail which is broadly rounded and shovel-like, not divided into two lobes as in the dugong. They have mobile flippers which can be used as hands. The colour is dark grey to blackish. Their upper lips are divided and mobile. Manatees use their top and bottom lips together in order to grasp and tear at their food.