                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    MANATEES/TXTj
DW2              @                                                       CAROLINE                                         ,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                J J J J J J J J J J J J J J 46$MANATEES%7J 6Science project7J J J J J J J J J J J6Caroline Johnson7J6Grade 57J6February 19867JJJJJJManatees are a species of vertebrate mammals which live ineither salt or fresh water. Scientists believe that manatees aredistant cousins of the elephant and that they left land for watermillions of years ago. They are placid,  harmless animals were  oncethought by Christopher Columbus to be mermaids. JManatees belong to the order Sirenia, the only aquaticmammals that live entirely on vegetation. Another Sirenian@                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                 @                             Jsystems in South America,along the Gulf of Mexico,Caribbean coasts and in central Florida.JThe manatee has a gray to black corpulent body which tapersto a horizontally rounded tail. Its fore limbs are flippers whichare set close to its head. Its head is small and it has a straightsnout with a cleft upper lip with bristly hairs. Adults are about 3meters (10 ft) long and weigh about 585 kilograms (1300 lbs). Theirbodies are covered in hide.JManatees usually swim at around two to four miles an hourbut can move more swiftly, with rapid tail strokes, when in danger.J They are herbivores whose food consists of a variety ofbottom growing plants, especially water hyacinths.Because of thismanatees are useful in clearing irrigation and transport channelsclogged with vegetation.JEvery two to three years the manatee gives birth to onecalf, six months after conception. They are very loving mothers andnurse their young for up to three years. JAlthough they face extinction Jace extinction in many ways, the manateesmain enemy is man. Encroaching civilisation destroys wild habitatsand killing for sport and vandalism accounts for many deaths. Thepropellers of boats can cut a manatee almost in half.Hunters killedmanat