OLogy Cards > West Indian manatee

Manatees were once mistaken for mermaids. In fact, manatees are part of a small group of marine mammals known as "Sirenia." This name comes from the Sirens of ancient Greek mythology, who lured sailors onto their islands with their sweet songs. Today, we know that manatees aren't sirens at all. They are aquatic animals that graze on underwater plants in warm shallow coastal waters.