[Photo] Re-illustrated by Sharon Mooney and based on Manatees of the World, image may be redistributed on condition original credits remain intact.

The Amazonian Manatee Trichechus inunguis is a species of manatee that lives in the freshwater habitats of the Amazon River and its tributaries. Amazonian manatees are aquatic animals. They come from the Sirenia order and are also known as "seacows". Their color is brownish gray and they have thick, wrinkled skin, often with coarse hair, or "whiskers." Its main predator is man. The three species of manatees, and the closely related Dugong, are unique in that they are the only plant-eating marine mammals in modern times.

A somewhat unique feature (amongst mammals) of the manatee is the constant replacement of molar teeth; new teeth enter at the back of the jaw and replace old and worn teeth at the front. Elephants also have teeth that get replaced, but they have a limited set of these replacement teeth.